We are committed to making sure no one needs to rough sleep in Swindon. Through regular outreach and close work with partner agencies, we identify and support anyone new to rough sleeping. We are confident that our average nightly figure is around eight people.
For 2025 to 2026, we have received more than £580,000 in government funding to support rough sleepers, plus £3.2 million through the Homelessness Prevention Grant. This helps us prevent homelessness and support people at risk of losing their home. Offers of support are not always accepted because some people face complex barriers, including poor mental health, trauma and addiction.
You can report concerns through StreetLink. Many people who appear homeless are not rough sleeping and may be begging. If you are worried about someone who is begging and might be sleeping outside, you can still use StreetLink so our outreach team can find them and offer support.
The information below explains more about rough sleeping and the support available in Swindon.
Rough sleeping is when someone has no home and sleeps outside or in places not designed for living. This includes doorways, parks, bus shelters and empty buildings. It is one of the most visible forms of homelessness.
There is no single reason someone might sleep rough. The most common causes include:
losing a job or home
family or relationship breakdown
struggles with mental health or addiction
leaving care, prison or the armed forces without enough support
a lack of affordable housing
Not always. Rough sleeping is one type of homelessness. Other people may be staying in hostels, temporary accommodation or sleeping on friends sofas. Some people who rough sleep also have accommodation available but cannot stay there for personal, social or safety reasons.
Numbers change through the year. As of October 2025, our average is around eight people a night.
Anyone with access to public funds who is rough sleeping and asks for help will be offered:
a dedicated case officer
a personal housing plan
an offer of safe and suitable emergency accommodation
We have a low number of verified rough sleepers in Swindon and all are known to support services. We work with each person to find accommodation and support them to manage the issues that may prevent them from accepting or keeping a place to live.
Our priority is to ensure that no one is rough sleeping. Support includes:
Outreach workers who visit people directly
Navigators to help people access services
Emergency bed spaces through our homelessness team
Long-term housing and employment support to help rebuild lives
A floating support service to help people keep their tenancy
Be kind and respectful. If you can, you may want to offer food, a hot drink or warm clothes.
You can also encourage them to go to the Haven Day Centre or contact our homelessness services on 01793 445503.
If you want to let our outreach team know where the person is, you can complete a StreetLink report.
StreetLink is a national service that helps connect people sleeping outside in England and Wales with support from councils and charities. It covers anyone bedding down outdoors or staying in places not meant for living, such as a vehicle or an empty building.
Not always. Many people who beg in Swindon are not sleeping rough. Some have accommodation and may be asking for money to fund a drug or alcohol addiction rather than a place to stay.
If someone who is begging appears to be sleeping rough, you can send an alert through StreetLink. Please share their location, the time you saw them and anything else that might help.
Some people choose to give money. Others prefer to donate to charities that help rough sleepers. Either choice is yours.
We have repurposed Saltzgitter Court in Toothill into transitional accommodation, providing 25 refurbished units with onsite support.
Saltzgitter Court also acts as a community hub, hosting community policing, public health teams and voluntary organisations.
These local efforts are supported by an additional £84 million in government funding. Swindon Borough Council has been allocated more than £582,000 from this fund.
Helping someone who is rough sleeping can take time. People respond differently and may need several conversations before accepting help.