WHAT WE DO
SMART First Point teams support people in Bedford who are homeless, rough sleeping or who are worried they will soon become homeless.
Our Outreach team supports people ‘on the street’ who are rough sleeping, helping them to move into accommodation as quickly as possible, to enable support and improve safety.
Our Housing Advisors support people who are worried they might lose their accommodation, or who are at risk of becoming homeless, aiming to prevent this from happening wherever possible.
Our Outreach team supports people ‘on the street’ who are rough sleeping, helping them to move into accommodation as quickly as possible, to enable support and improve safety.
Our Housing Advisors support people who are worried they might lose their accommodation, or who are at risk of becoming homeless, aiming to prevent this from happening wherever possible.
MORE THAN HOUSING ADVICE
We can help people in many ways. Alongside housing-related support, our teams develop support packages based on each person’s needs, goals and desires.
We work closely with other organisations, focusing on areas such as physical health, mental health and substance use, helping people to gain access to support in multiple areas to positively impact on their current situation.
We work closely with other organisations, focusing on areas such as physical health, mental health and substance use, helping people to gain access to support in multiple areas to positively impact on their current situation.
Who we can help
We can help anyone in Bedford who is homeless or about to become homeless.
This includes people who are:
Or, people who have:
This includes people who are:
- Sofa surfing
- Staying with friends or relatives who are no longer able to accommodate
- Living in unsuitable housing
- Living in unaffordable accommodation
- Experiencing abuse
- Experiencing a relationship breakdown and are at risk of becoming homeless
- Struggling with rent arrears, for example Private, Local Authority or Public Sector
- Having financial difficulties that are putting their accommodation at risk
Or, people who have:
- Already needed to rough sleep
- No home
- Lost or are about to lose their accommodation
- Left an institution or Local Authority Care
SUPPORT for people sleeping rough
Our Outreach Teams locate people who are rough sleeping, providing support ‘on the street’ if accommodation cannot be found quickly. The team help people to access accommodation as soon as possible.
The team also respond to any referrals or locations where there are concerns about someone rough sleeping, helping to meet basic needs in partnership with the SMART Prebend Centre.
The team also respond to any referrals or locations where there are concerns about someone rough sleeping, helping to meet basic needs in partnership with the SMART Prebend Centre.
Help to Prevent homelessness
Our specialist workers offer support, advice and guidance for people worried that they may soon become homeless and need to sleep rough.
First Point Housing Advisors evaluate each person's needs and identify the areas they need support with.
Our teams work with partners around specialist debt or legal advice where possible. We liaise with landlords to identify workable solutions to problems.
First Point Housing Advisors evaluate each person's needs and identify the areas they need support with.
Our teams work with partners around specialist debt or legal advice where possible. We liaise with landlords to identify workable solutions to problems.
longer term support
Our Floating Support Team help to provide a smooth transition into accommodation for someone who has been homeless. They help people set up their home, accessing financial support and utilising SMART’s extensive connections to source items for homes, as well as setting up utilities and other vital services.
The team continue to support tenants while they adapt to their new home environment and help them to work towards longer term goals to achieve the life they wish to lead.
The team continue to support tenants while they adapt to their new home environment and help them to work towards longer term goals to achieve the life they wish to lead.
Our Partners
We work alongside local and national partners to provide support with things like debt, benefits, health, education, training and employment. Visit our partners page for more information.
Who can make a referral
If you are a professional or a partner agency you can make a referral. Professionals include:
- GPs
- Paramedics
- Hospitals
- Landlords
- Bedford Community Safety Team
refer someone for support
To provide support we need to know a little about the person you are referring. We must have consent to make contact with them.
SELF REFERRAL
If the person you are helping is experiencing a problem with their housing and would like help, they can also refer themselves. Please direct them to the contact page.