The UK Government is changing how we vote. From May 2023, you will need to show photo ID when you vote at a polling station.
Homeless tonight?
How we can help if you are homeless and have nowhere to sleep tonight, have been rough sleeping, or are in danger from the threat of violence or abuse.
Please call our Housing Team on 01263 513811 or email housing@north-norfolk.gov.uk for advice and support.
Contact our emergency out of hours on 01223 849782 if you have nowhere to stay outside office hours or over the weekend.
For people who are sleeping rough
Rough sleeping is the most acute form of homelessness. It can happen because of:
- losing work
- relationship breakdown
- traumatic life events
- mental ill health
- problems with drugs and alcohol
It can push people already on the brink of homelessness or rough sleeping.
How can we help
We have a skilled and dedicated accommodation and support team to provide short and long-term support to people who are rough sleeping.
You can get advice and information that is more specific to your situation, including:
- finding safe emergency accommodation
- accessing medical help
- making a homeless application and discussing the different housing options
- reconnecting with a family member
- advice on claiming benefits you may be entitled to
- support with independent living when you're ready to move into longer-term accommodation and help sustain your tenancy
How to help a rough sleeper in your area
If you see someone sleeping rough and want help, you can alert them via Streetlink.
StreetLink is an organisation which helps members of the public connect rough sleepers to local services that can support them.
You can also contact our accommodation and support team.
Please provide a:
- description of the person
- location of where you saw them
- date and time of when you saw them
This information will enable us to investigate further and offer support. If you have the what3words app, this makes it easy to find, share and save precise locations and can assist us with locating someone who is sleeping rough.
When people refuse offers of help
The Council and other agencies who work to support people sleeping rough do not give up when this happens.
Homelessness is a complex issue, and many reasons why someone may refuse help and choose to remain on the streets.
We provide reassurance that people are not left with no help. Support is always left open, and where possible, we will maintain regular contact and continue working with each person to help and understand their problems.
If the person needs urgent medical help or is under 18, call the police on 999.
Severe weather
The council starts its severe weather emergency provision whenever the outside temperature is predicted to hit zero degrees or below.
Emergency accommodation may be provided during severe weather for people sleeping rough in North Norfolk. It is known as Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP). However, emergency accommodation isn’t provided during all severe weather. For example, we don’t offer it routinely during hot weather. We contact the person and offer advice about hydration, sunscreen and shelter.
Contact 01263 513811 if you are rough sleeping during periods of severe weather.
The accommodation and support team will arrange and provide emergency accommodation during severe weather to create safe spaces for people sleeping rough, to leave the streets and take shelter from harmful weather conditions.
The accommodation and support team provide access to the SWEP. The Council starts its severe weather emergency provision whenever the outside temperature is predicted to hit zero degrees or below.