Innovative technology gives public the power to help rough sleepers

No Second Night Out Greater Manchester logo

A new homelessness service is using SmartPhone technology to encourage the public to help vulnerable people they see rough sleeping this winter.

No Second Night Out is run by housing association Riverside ECHG and is a partnership with the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities.

It has taken the unique step of linking its 24/7 helpline with SmartPhone technology by adding a QR scanner box on all information materials. People with SmartPhones who have downloaded the generic QR scanning application can scan the box and be taken straight to a reporting page for the Riverside team.

“Many people use SmartPhone technology to do things more quickly and easily so we couldn’t see why we couldn’t make this work for our service,” said Riverside’s Manager, Eleanor Smith. “During winter we are dealing with saving rough sleepers’ lives so what better use of technology!”

No Second Night Out compliments existing rough sleeper services across Greater Manchester with its specific focus on people who are new to the streets. This is line with Government policy and the knowledge that it is easier, cheaper and more beneficial to get people off the streets before they become entrenched in the lifestyle that can cause them to develop a range of complex problems that threaten their lives.

The initial set-up phase of the service has already shown the effectiveness of the No Second Night Out approach.

“Increasing numbers of the general public are alerting us to rough sleepers and this has the benefit that they don’t have to wait until they get home or to the office to do this,” said Eleanor Smith. “In turn this enables our outreach team on the streets to get out quickly to find someone sleeping rough.”

The benefits of this fast-response approach have already been seen and outreach teams have been able to show that they can get out and assess someone and make an almost immediate offer of appropriate support. This can range from a stay in emergency accommodation, to more complex support that reconnects the person with their family or local community.

Findings from the initial set-up phase of the service from April to October have shown that this quick-response approach has meant that Riverside’s team have already worked with 217 people who identified themselves as rough sleepers across Greater Manchester. Of these, 20 percent were assisted the same day and almost 70 percent within the 24 hours.

As part of developing the No Second Night Out service, Riverside is also training a team of dedicated Volunteer Mentors, in partnership with national agency, Homeless Link. The Mentors, some of whom have also been homeless in the past, will work with clients as they come off the streets to help build their self confidence, lifeskills and training opportunities so that there will be less likelihood of them ever returning to the streets again.

Today (Monday 26 November) the official Protocol Agreement between Riverside ECHG and all ten Greater Manchester local authorities will be signed signifying the full commencement of the service across the region.