Rough sleepers

Rough sleepers are defined as:

People sleeping, about to bed down (sitting on/in or standing next to their bedding) or actually bedded down in the open air (such as on the streets, in tents, doorways, parks, bus shelters or encampments). People in buildings or other places not designed for habitation (such as stairwells, barns, sheds, car parks, cars, derelict boats, stations or "bashes").

Source: Evaluating the Extent of Rough Sleeping, Communities and Local Government, 2010.

The definition does not include people in hostels or shelters, people in campsites or other sites used for recreational purposes or organised protest, squatters or travellers.

Reporting someone sleeping rough in Cumbria

If you see someone sleeping rough in Cumbria please tell us by using the StreetLink app or by ringing 0300 500 0914.

Please note we do not have an outreach service that can respond to reports of rough sleepers out of hours. We will always try to follow up on all reports of someone rough sleeping the next working day.

Please call 999 if you think the person is in immediate danger or needs urgent care.

Please contact the Housing Options Team in your area if you are at risk of becoming homeless.