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A recent report showed a 38% rise in the number of people who had slept rough the night before they presented to Fife Council as homeless.
Now officers are asking Fife residents to help them support this very vulnerable group.
While this percentage is already high, officers fear it doesn’t reflect the true extent of rough sleeping as it only reflects those who have approached the council for support. Many people may not feel confident or willing to engage with council services and they could miss out on much of the help available to them.
A new reporting system is in place now to make it easy for the public to alert council officers to anyone who they think may be rough sleeping. This will allow staff to find them and offer support.
Fife Council head of service, John Mills, has welcomed the new reporting system, saying: “Rough sleeping isn’t usually a choice anyone would make. There are often a range of complicated reasons why someone is rough sleeping. It could be a relationship breakdown, mental health issues, unemployment, poverty, the list goes on.
“What we do know is that rough sleeping comes with a whole range of risk factors for the individual and has a huge impact on health and well-being. It affects physical and mental health, increases the risk of violence and exploitation, makes it harder to access services, support and employment, and it shortens life expectancy significantly.
“We are now asking the public to help us identify anyone who may need our help.”
Fife Council has already run a pilot project in the Cowdenbeath area which enabled staff from Fife Council, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and Royal Mail to quickly and easily record any instances of rough sleeping they observed.
The Safer Communities Team will follow up on any potential sightings by visiting the reported locations. This response aligns with their existing responsibilities and a service they currently provide if they receive a report of rough sleeping.
Reporting rough sleeping is straightforward and accessible:
- Follow the link and fill in the short online form.
- The form asks three simple questions, – when did you see someone rough sleeping, which town/village, and some detail of location using any nearby landmarks, like a park or a bridge.
- For those unable to use the online form, please call 0800 028 6231 and give as much information as you can.
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