New services to protect Birmingham’s most vulnerable citizens
Birmingham City Council has commissioned expert partners to provide services to keep the city's most vulnerable citizens safe.
The new contracts starting on 1 December reflect the city’s commitment to preventing harm and supporting vulnerable people some of whom will have experienced homelessness, domestic abuse, substance use, mental ill health or have an offending history.
Our commissioned partners will be providing transitional and emergency accommodation and helping people with longer-term accommodation solutions, improving people's wellbeing, supporting people with education and training opportunities, helping to manage finances, and ensuring access to other services.
In June 2023, the Cabinet approved the recommissioning of the vulnerable adults' services to further transform the services to focus on prevention.
The new contracts represent an investment of £91m over the next seven years in supporting vulnerable citizens through these new services in Birmingham.
Our valued partners in this work include – Trident Reach, St Basil’s, BSWAID, Cranstoun, Citizens Advice Mid Mercia, YMCA Heart of England, Claremont Living, Spring Housing and Green Square Accord.
Plans are in place for further commissioning to bring the total investment in preventative support to £100m over the next seven years.
Cllr Rob Pocock, interim Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said:
"As a council, one of our key roles is to care for and protect some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
"Our new commissioning approach means that the support for vulnerable adults will change in December with a greater focus on prevention. Support for those in crisis will remain for anyone who needs it."
"We must do all we can to prevent people from spiralling into a crisis - it ensures better outcomes for people affected, stopping individuals from experiencing significant distress and harm brought about when in a crisis.
"By continuing the transformation of the services we commission to focus more on prevention, we can ensure we are more financially sustainable as a council as well.
Cllr Jayne Francis, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, said:
"Birmingham City Council has an excellent record in working with partners to ensure that there is help available to the most vulnerable citizens facing homelessness. Birmingham does continue to have a strong offer to single homeless people and one that goes substantially beyond just what government grant allows for.
"This includes a dedicated Outreach Team on the streets, 7 days and nights a week, and sufficient emergency accommodation so there is an offer for all. We are committed to ensuring that there is a bedspace for anyone requiring it throughout the year.
"Working with our commissioned partners, we will provide people with the support they need to move on to non-emergency accommodation and ensure there is capacity for new placements. During severe weather situations, additional capacity will be secured.
"If you are concerned about someone who may be sleeping rough you can notify the Outreach Team via www.thestreetlink.org.uk and they will follow up with an offer of help.
"Anyone facing homelessness in the city can contact Birmingham City Council via our Contact Centre on (0121) 303 7410 or by approaching one of our specialist homelessness prevention services – please see our website for more details."
