Homelessness support over Christmas and New Year

Support is available to homeless people over the Christmas period. Those who need help can get support through the services listed below.

Howden House

In person access for customers without telephone or internet access.

1 Union Street, Sheffield, S1 2SH

Opening Times:

• Normal service times, closing on Friday 23 December at 5pm.
• Reopening normal office hours from Tuesday 3 January 9am – 5pm

Housing Advice and Options Telephone Service

Call - 0114 273 6306

Opening Times:

• Normal service times, closing on Friday 23 December at 5pm.
• Open for calls Wednesday 28 – Fri 30 December 8.30am – 5pm daily.
• Reopening normal hours from Tuesday 3 January 8.30 am

Emergency Out of Hours Telephone Service

Call - 0800 7311 689

• Operating at all times when the Housing Advice and Options telephone line is closed until 7am on 3 January

Staffing for Homelessness services across the Christmas Period

The service is staffed to cover Howden House and the telephone services.

An on-call duty manager is available at all other times over the period via the Out of Hours service

There are staff visiting hotel and temporary accommodation sites across the Christmas Period

Outreach services for homeless customers who are rough sleeping continue to run via the Rough Sleepers Initiative team and the commissioned Framework service on a daily basis throughout the period.

Rough Sleepers year-round plan

A ‘Rough Sleepers year-round Plan’ remains in operation that offers rough sleepers safe accommodation over the winter period regardless of temperatures, to safeguard them against the impact of the winter weather and the risks posed by the pandemic.

The service is working on a daily basis to identify, assess and place rough sleepers. In times of severe weather, the service will also run ‘Weather Watch’ which will open up further emergency bed spaces to ensure anyone sleeping rough can be offered a safe, warm space whilst temperatures are at very low levels.

If you see someone sleeping rough in Sheffield and are concerned, you can report it either online via Streetlink, or by calling Sheffield’s Street Outreach Team on 0800 066 5358 which is free from landlines and mobiles.

You can also text SOTS to 80800, followed by your message. During evenings and weekends you can call our out of hours service  on 0800 7311 689 the individual rough sleeper would need to be with you to speak to the adviser.

HARC  (Homeless and Roofless at Christmas)

• Open Christmas Eve to 1 January 8.30-2.30pm at Victoria Hall Lower Hall, George Street Entrance.
• Breakfasts served from 8.30-10am and lunches from 12noon-1.30pm with a takeaway meal for tea.
• SCC rough sleeper initiative staff will be available to give advice to anyone who needs it and there will be a hairdresser, and health professionals visiting as well as a clothing store.