RESIDENTS are being urged to help rough sleepers this Christmas by alerting Malvern Hills District Council’s housing team if they see people on the streets.
The council’s housing team has already helped 17 people to get off the streets since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A few have chosen not to take up the help offered but the authority continues to work with them and to offer support.
Emergency shelters will be opened on cold nights to make sure people who have chosen to continue to sleep rough have somewhere to go when temperatures drop.
People wanting to do more can donate to registered homeless charities or offer to volunteer time with them.
If residents see a person collapsed on the street, they should call the emergency services immediately.
Coun Natalie McVey, Malvern Hills District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health, said: “If you want to help support rough sleepers this Christmas the best thing you can do is let us know by using StreetLink.
“The sooner we know about someone, the quicker we can find them and start to work with them to find a solution.
“Not everyone accepts our offer of assistance, which is their choice, but we will never walk away and will continue to engage with them until they are ready to be helped.”
Anyone who sees people sleeping rough should report it by calling 0300 500 0914, via the StreetLink app or online at streetlink.org.uk
