Croydon Council has launched a new rapid response wraparound service to help rough sleepers move away from the streets and into safer, more stable accommodation.
Delivered by Thames Reach in partnership with the Council, police, health services, voluntary, community and faith sector (VCFS groups), the service provides targeted personalised support.
A clear, single pathway to support will ensure people receive timely interventions to steer them away from the streets towards long‑term stability.
The enhanced service focuses on finding and engaging rough sleepers quickly. It will offer trauma‑informed, compassionate support that includes access to healthcare, mental health services, substance use treatment and help with accessing accommodation.
Last year, Croydon services supported 445 people, two-thirds of which were only seen rough sleeping once by the outreach service, with 149 helped into quick routes away from rough sleeping. The new model builds on this work, expanding capacity to ensure no one feels forgotten and no one spends a second night out on the streets.
This includes Croydon’s Town Centre Taskforce working closely with partner organisations. This year alone, the Taskforce cleared 18 sites linked to antisocial behaviour and continues to offer meaningful support to vulnerable individuals involved. This has helped improve hotspot areas such as Fairfield Halls car park, the grounds around Croydon Minster and Wandle Road car park.
Bill Tidnam, Chief Executive of Thames Reach, said: “No one in Croydon should feel left behind, and this partnership gives us the strong, connected network we need to offer people a genuine route to stability.
“Every person sleeping rough has a different story – many are dealing with trauma, poor mental health, addiction or the shock of suddenly losing their home. This new approach allows us to meet people where they are, build trust, and provide wraparound support. By working closely with the Council and community partners, we can respond faster, make accommodation offers more compelling, and help people move into secure, long‑term housing.”
“This new rapid response service demonstrates our unwavering commitment to supporting Croydon’s most vulnerable residents with dignity and compassion. By working hand‑in‑hand with Thames Reach, the Police, health partners and our VCFS partners, we can act quickly, connect people with the right support, and offer sustainable alternatives to life on the streets.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
Anyone who is concerned about someone sleeping rough can contact StreetLink, which alerts local teams to offer them support quickly.
