Homelessness

Sleeping rough is harmful and damaging to people's health.

The housing charity Shelter provides advice on how to:

• Shelter: get a place to stay if you're homeless and on the streets
• Shelter: get practical help if you're on the streets

Find out about emergency housing if you're homeless.

If you're sleeping rough

If you're sleeping rough in Thurrock, you can contact StreetLink either online or through their 24-hour helpline. StreetLink connects rough sleepers with local support.

If you're concerned about someone sleeping rough

Phone 999 if the person is in immediate danger, needs medical assistance, or is under 18 years-old.

To raise an alert about someone sleeping rough, go to the StreetLink website and use the link to help someone sleeping rough.

Working with people sleeping rough on the streets

Together with other councils, we work with Sanctuary, a social housing organisation that helps people across the UK.

Sanctuary Housing provides necessary support and accommodation for rough sleepers as quickly as possible.

Severe weather – emergency accommodation

Severe weather can threaten the safety and well-being of vulnerable people. When there is a risk of severe cold weather, we will act quickly to make sure rough sleepers have access to shelter if we believe they are at risk.

Our 'severe weather emergency protocol' (SWEP) for protecting rough sleepers is below.

To check the latest local weather forecast, go to Met Office: Grays weather.