Rough Sleeping - Mayor's Thanks to Volunteers and How to Help

It was World Homeless Day last week, and in his regular email update, Mayor Dave Hodgson thanked volunteers and organisations helping to support rough sleepers and tackle homelessness locally. He also shared a video from his recent visit to SMART Prebend Day Centre's open day, where Lisa from SMART listed the items they are asking people to donate at the moment. You can read the full email, including the link to the video, below:

"It was World Homeless Day this week, and I want to thank local organisations and especially their volunteers for all that they do in helping tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in Bedford Borough.

Last week I visited one of those organisations when I popped in to the SMART Prebend Day Centre's open day. You can donate food, clothes and other items to help them support homeless and vulnerable local people, and Lisa from SMART told me the items they are looking for at the moment in a video on my Facebook page.

Rough sleeping has risen sharply across the country over recent years, which is truly scandalous. We are expanding our range of services and support for rough sleepers in advance of this winter, including more accommodation, more emergency beds and additional support and outreach workers.

We've also recently opened the new accommodation and support facility for rough sleepers with the most complex needs, Clarence House in Bedford.

You can find a guide to local homeless services at bedfordhomeless.org.uk, and if you find someone who is sleeping rough please contact streetlink.org.uk.

We should never see people sleeping on the streets in Bedford Borough as something that is acceptable. Local charities and their dedicated volunteers certainly aren't accepting it, and they have my continued thanks for all they do.

Best wishes

Dave"

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