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ASSERTIVE STREET OUTREACH

Assertive Street Outreach brings the support to those who need it with little expectations and aims to help people navigate the complicated systems in place to help end their homelessness.

HOW WE DO ASSERTIVE STREET OUTREACH

  • 2 teams manned by 2 staff members at all times.

  • Providing care and support on the street.

  • We engage with highly vulnerable people in public spaces in Belfast.

  • Provide basic needs.

  • Provide transport to accommodation to prevent rough sleeping.

  • Operates 365 days a year from 7am –3am.

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Publicly available phone numbers:

- 078 9493 1047 (7AM-2AM)

- 078 5124 6814 (8AM-3AM)​​​

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SEEK, SHARE & SUPPORT

SEEK

Regularly and persistently seeking out people sleeping rough, and other agencies signposting us to them/them to us, means we can see rough sleepers and engage with them.

SHARE

We can share information with services about people to engage with them and facilitate engagement.

SUPPORT

Therefore, we can support people to access a range of housing, health and other forms of services.

Assertive Outreach recognises that the lack of engagement with services experienced by people sleeping rough is not a problem of the individual – it is the inaccessibility of the services intended to support them.

There are structural barriers in place - inconvenient locations and opening times, uncomfortable or daunting environments.

Life on the streets is chaotic and unpredictable - it is often difficult to keep appointments with service providers.

Negative experiences with service providers make people less likely to seek out support in the future.

3 SHARED KEY TENENTS OF ASSERTIVE OUTREACH

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1

Assertive street outreach approaches share a core aim of ending homelessness by supporting people sleeping rough into secure and affordable housing. This may begin by addressing basic needs and move on to bigger support.

2

Actively seek out people sleeping rough; actively and persistently trying to engage with them. If a person declines support, we do not give up.

3

Assertive street outreach works within a network of multidisciplinary services. Rough sleepers are often the most entrenched and have a range of complex needs. It is critical to refer/signpost and provide a range of flexible and continuous support.

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