Purpose

Following receipt of Homelessness Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant 2026-2029 Executive decision was reached on 10 February 2026 to procure services for rough sleepers.

The 8 ‘off the street’ offer bed provision is essential in meeting the aims as set out in the Council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and wider council priorities.

The Team is currently revising the HRSS strategy action plan under the new government requirements within the new National Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, which is a condition linked to the grant funding. Ipswich is also required to publish a ‘Long term rough sleeping partnership plan’ to detail how the Council will reduce the number of long-term rough sleepers within this parliament. 

This provision is a crucial first step for people experiencing street homelessness on their pathway to a settled home. This will be funded by government grant.

The decision has been made to contract Anglia Care Trust to supply 8 Rough Sleeper Emergency Beds from 1 September 2026 for 12 months with the option to extend by a year at a time for a maximum of two further years to take the provision past 31.03.2028 

Contract value: £41,314 p/a

Decision

To contract Anglia Care Trust to supply eight Rough Sleeper Emergency Beds from 1 September 2026 for 12 months with the option to extend by a year at a time for a maximum of two further years to take the provision past 31.03.2028.

Reason:

To fulfil the aims set out in the Council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and wider council priorities.