1. HOMELESS IN PRESTON SURVEY 2011 Data collected June 2011 Greg Smith

2. Survey of Drop in / Soup Kitchen Users Central Methodist Foxton Centre Salvation Army 44 questionnaires returned in month of June. (probably about half of the service users at these centres)

3. (55%) 24 people Preston Born and bred + 11 (16%) from Lancs or NW region But 27% had been here 5 years or less 88% were male 68% living as singles

4. Nearly half (48%/ 21) reported they had spent the previous night sleeping rough or in a squat. 16% at friends or relatives And 34% in their own home. About 60% said they had spent at least one night in the last month roofless, or on the streets and 27% (12 people) that this had been every night

5. When did you first become homeless? 45% reported they had first become homeless before 2002 (ie ten years or more ago).and 1 person as long ago as 1980. However the 25% not answering this question suggests they had not experienced homelessness as such. Half reported that they had had at least a month on the streets in the last ten years And 31% in an institution (mostly prison)

6. What were the causes or circumstances that made you homeless Family break up 19 Marriage or relationship problems 7 drink or drugs problem 12 discharge from prison10 mental health breakdown 7

7. What is the biggest problem you face in your present situation? alcohol but not dependent 1 alcoholism vulnerable 1 being alcoholic 1 being dead 1 continuing drink problem 1 drugs 2 eating and hygiene finding plAces to sleep 1 existing 1 family relationships 1 fear of becoming homeless again cos not had own tenancy for past 5 years until recently1 finding somewhwere to live 2 get back in employment getting a job made worse by record of homelessness 1 getting started with job and accoMmodation 1 homeless 3 lack of TLC with physical and mental health problems 1 loneliness 1 mental depression 2 money 1 money and housing 2 myself 1 need own private accomodatiomn needs roof over head and trying to find work 1 no address 1 no home 1no problems at present 1no work 1nothing1 problems in shared house with other residents 1 somewhwere safe to sleep 1surviving on streets 1 trying to find grandfather 1

8. What is the one best thing that could be done to help you at the moment? a proper flat accommodation and get on drugs programme being offered good accomodation better in depth job advice don?t know employment and housing family get together feels has got a lot of support at present find accommodation find own place and a job finding somewhwere to live get accommodation get sectioned and put in good care a job getting enough money getting hot food and human contact help with finding grandfather help with getting a home and job help with housing job keep finances in order in order to prevent arrears leave me alone medical and access to kids medication which I can't get more support not sure probably getting good accommodation to be housed win lottery

9. HOMELESS YOUNG PEOPLE In June Barnardos dealt with Sofa Surfing- 37 Of the 37 outcomes included; Secured emergency accommodation- 6 wanted but unable to provide emergency accommodation- 5 Sleeping in vehicle- 2 Disclosed some nights walking the street- 6 YP presenting as Sleeping rough- 5 Of the 5; Return home-1 Emergency accommodation-2 Unwilling to engage with services- 1 Unsuitable for emergency accommodation/non priority- 1

10. QUESTIONS 1 What is the true level of need..? In a month there may be as many as 100 asking for support from first aid services, drop ins, advice points etc. (90 a month now using food bank, busiest night at drop in 52 people) Around 25-30 people in the month were documented as saying they were sleeping rough during the month. We know from the names that at least 6 -10 regular entrenched rough sleepers are not in our survey lists Yet outreach teams single night counts have never? Topped a dozen.

11. QUESTIONS 2 What more do we need to do?