reconnecting EU Nationals/rough sleepers
Case reference FOI2023/00689
Published 5 May 2023
Request
1. How many rough sleepers in your local authority area were accommodated in total between (a) 01 October 2020-30 June 2021 and then (b) 01 July 2021-01 April 2023?
2. How many of the rough sleepers accommodated at any time during these periods (a) 01 October 2020-30 June 2021 and (b) 01 July 2021-01 April 2023?) are/were considered to be No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)?
3. How many of the rough sleepers accommodated at any time during these periods (a) 01 October 2020-30 June 2021 and then (b) 01 July 2021-01 April 2023 are/were EU nationals?
4. Have any rough sleepers placed in accommodation during this time ((a) 01 October 2020-30 June 2021 and then (b) 01 July 2021-01 April 2023) been supported through a reconnection service to another part of the UK or to return to country of origin as well as information on the age, gender, nationality and marital status of those who have subsequently accessed a reconnection service.
5. Information (if any) more broadly on the number of people (excluding rough sleepers- as asked above) who have been supported through a reconnection service to another part of the UK or to return to country of origin as well as information on the age, gender, nationality and marital status of those who have accessed a reconnection service.
6. Information on the source of funding for reconnecting/ supporting people to another part of the UK/ return to their country of origin?
Response
1. How many rough sleepers in your local authority area were accommodated in total between (a) 01 October 2020-30 June 2021 and then (b) 01 July 2021-01 April 2023?
A:
a) 110. (16 in Covid placements, 14 in secured accommodation for at least 6 months & 80 in Winter Provision/ Severe Weather Emergency Protocol)
b) 279. (153 in secured accommodation for at least 6 months & 126 in Winter Provision/ Severe Weather Emergency Protocol)
2. How many of the rough sleepers accommodated at any time during these periods (a) 01 October 2020-30 June 2021 and (b) 01 July 2021-01 April 2023?) are/were considered to be No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)?
A:
a) 8
b) 9* (*1 of the people making up this number was believed to be NRPF at the time of placement but has since engaged with support and is now in receipt of benefit)
3. How many of the rough sleepers accommodated at any time during these periods (a) 01 October 2020-30 June 2021 and then (b) 01 July 2021-01 April 2023 are/were EU nationals?
A:
a) 11
b) 40
4. Have any rough sleepers placed in accommodation during this time ((a) 01 October 2020-30 June 2021 and then (b) 01 July 2021-01 April 2023) been supported through a reconnection service to another part of the UK or to return to country of origin as well as information on the age, gender, nationality and marital status of those who have subsequently accessed a reconnection service.
A:
(a) 01 October 2020-30 June 2021 - we had 1 reconnection to Poland, age 35, male, Polish, single and 1 reconnection to Lithuania - age 42, male, Lithuanian, single
(b) 01 July 2021-01 April 2023) - 2 reconnections to Poland, age 35 and 45, males, Polish and single
5. Information (if any) more broadly on the number of people (excluding rough sleepers- as asked above) who have been supported through a reconnection service to another part of the UK or to return to country of origin as well as information on the age, gender, nationality and marital status of those who have accessed a reconnection service.
A: We have reconnected only rough sleepers who were without any income
6. Information on the source of funding for reconnecting/ supporting people to another part of the UK/ return to their country of origin?
A: The Polish Embassy has got a scheme where they issue a one way passport (the clients we repatriated did not have passports) and pay for their bus/plane ticket. Afterwards the client/their family have to pay it back. The Housing Solutions Team would cover the costs of the tickets to London as they need to go to the Polish Consulate in London. In the case of other countries we have to cover all costs (to airport and plane tickets).
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.