Rough Sleeping
No one should have to sleep rough. Path’s Rough Sleeping Team works on the front line and behind the scenes to tackle rough sleeping in Plymouth—with compassion, urgency, and a city-wide strategy.
What We Do
We engage directly with people on the streets and work with partners across Plymouth to ensure a coordinated, effective response to street homelessness.
Our work includes:
Early morning and daily outreach to find and support people sleeping rough—offering housing advice and working creatively to find safe and sustainable accommodation solutions
Partnerships with health and substance services to ensure people are getting the support they need
Path owned accommodation for people with complex and entrenched histories of sleeping rough who have no other housing options
A Housing First scheme in partnership with Plymouth Community Homes
City co-ordination and leadership, bringing together agencies across Plymouth to align around shared goals
Whether someone is newly homeless or has been on the streets long-term, our aim is to engage, support, and empower people toward a safer, more stable future.
Outreach Work
Through early morning outreach sessions, our team works directly with people sleeping rough on the streets. We also carry out targeted follow-up sessions for those who need specific support, and provide focused housing sessions at the Shekinah day centre.
The goal of this work is to:
Identify people who are sleeping rough
Make quick first contact, including responding to Streetlink alerts
Encourage engagement with the help available
Rebuild trust and relationships with services
To find safe and sustainable accommodation solutions
This work is vital in reaching those who may have fallen through the cracks and helping them begin the journey off the streets.
Severe Weather Response
We coordinate the city’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), ensuring that people experiencing homelessness can access safety and support when conditions become dangerous.
Severe weather events place additional pressure on people already facing homelessness and hardship. During storms and periods of extreme cold, we increase our outreach efforts and, working closely with Plymouth City Council, the Soup Run, and Alliance partners, support people to access warm, dry, and safe spaces both during the day and overnight.
Many people who seek shelter during SWEP move into more sustained housing, helping them avoid a return to rough sleeping on the streets.
Specialist Housing and Support
Our Multi Agency Rough Sleeping (MARS) team provides ongoing, intensive support for people experiencing chronic homelessness and rough sleeping, many of whom live with complex health needs. The team meets people where they are — on the streets, in hostels, or within Path’s specialist houses — and works alongside them to build safer, more stable futures.
Path Houses
With three dedicated Path MARS houses, we now accommodate and support 20 people whose rough sleeping and highly complex needs mean they have very limited alternatives for housing.
Our approach goes far beyond simply providing a roof over someone’s head. Alongside safe accommodation, we offer sustained, wraparound support to help residents access healthcare, community services, social activities, education, and volunteering opportunities.
Housing First
In partnership with Plymouth Community Homes (PCH), we also deliver a Housing First scheme. This model provides permanent housing for people who cannot live in shared or traditional supported accommodation. By giving someone a secure home first, it creates the stability needed to begin addressing other challenges and rebuilding independence.
Strategic Coordination
Path not only delivers frontline services—we also coordinate the city-wide strategy.
Working in partnership with Plymouth City Council, Path is responsible for:
Coordinating the city’s approach to rough sleeping work, including the severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP)
Supporting communication and consistency between statutory and voluntary agencies
Leading multi-agency operational and strategic groups to devise, monitor and implement Plymouth’s Rough Sleeping Strategy.
By managing frontline teams and providing strategic leadership, we ensure a clear link between daily operations and long-term strategy.
We work closely with:
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Shekinah Day Centre
Offers hot meals, showers, clothes, GP access, and mental health support
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Hostels and Supported Housing
Including Devonport House and George House
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Health Services
For physical health, mental wellbeing, and substance misuse
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Plymouth Soup Run
Providing food, hot drinks and referrals 365 days a year -
Provide Devon
Providing food to people in poverty within Plymouth and the surrounding area.
The Rough Sleeping Service is commissioned and funded by Plymouth City Council with additional funding from MHCLG.
Why This Matters
Last year, our team engaged nearly 500 people sleeping rough in Plymouth. Rough sleeping is rarely just about housing—it’s about trauma, poverty, addiction, poor mental health, or lack of support.
Path exists to meet those challenges head-on, providing a joined-up, person-centred response that respects dignity and builds hope.
Get Involved
With your compassionate support, we can reach more people in crisis, offer life-changing help, and bring them closer to a place they can finally call home.