Ipswich Borough Council’s Executive will meet next week (Tuesday 10 February) to consider plans to procure new rough sleeper services to ensure vital support continues beyond March 2026, when current contracts are due to end. The renewed provision would help the Council deliver on national and local aims of ending rough sleeping in Ipswich.
Rough sleeping remains the most harmful and high‑risk form of homelessness, often leading to severe health challenges, increased NHS use, interaction with the criminal justice system, and significantly lower life expectancy. Ipswich Borough Council has a duty to homeless people within the Borough, to assess their circumstances and act to prevent or relieve homelessness.
Funding has enabled a wide range of services including emergency beds, short term emergency provision, rough sleeper outreach, a prevention navigator, and a specialist mental health practitioner. These services play a critical role in supporting some of the town’s most vulnerable residents.
Since the launch of Ipswich’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2025–2030), the Council and its partners have achieved significant progress, including but not limited to: 52 people who have moved on from rough sleeper beds since January 2025; additional temporary accommodation for those at high-risk; and stronger joint working with Adult Care Services.
Cllr Alasdair Ross, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “Rough sleeping is the most harmful form of homelessness, and in Ipswich we’ve seen a 38% rise in people bedding down each month compared to last year.
“Between April and September 2025, 122 individuals were found rough sleeping. This is why we’re acting now to procure specialist services that provide safe accommodation and support.
“Since 2020, Ipswich Borough Council has secured over £3.6 million in Rough Sleeper Initiative funding, and we will continue to deliver value for money and life-changing support for those in greatest need.”