NFNO takes referrals from a range of agencies including the two Local Authorities who oversee the project, as well as community-based organisations who form part of the NFNO Partnership Group.
Extensive work has been done by the team to embed the project within the Local Authorities, and to promote our approach and equip Housing Options and other agencies to identify suitable clients and make referrals to NFNO.
Clients are assessed by our caseworkers if they are at risk of rough sleeping and meet the following criteria:
- They have a local connection to one of the two boroughs
- They are eligible for public funds
- They are not currently rough sleeping*
Our Screen & Refer Tool, developed in conjunction with St Mungo’s, along with the Typology of new rough sleepers, are used to assist our colleagues in making referrals. The Typology was developed from the project’s initial research by Becky Rice and St Mungo’s (see About Us).
Once accepted onto the NFNO project, the client is assigned a caseworker who aims to prevent their rough sleeping, assist with emergency accommodation if required, then support their move into suitable medium-to-long term accommodation, as well as provide them with suitable wraparound support from our partner agencies.
*In most circumstances. For further information, see our Referral Criteria.