I need help now

If you are sleeping rough on the streets of Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole, contact the Street Outreach team at St Mungo’s immediately by calling 01202 315962 or emailing b&pstreetoutreach@mungos.org.

St Mungo’s Street Outreach team is out every morning, whatever the weather, and is dedicated to helping people to take the first steps to rebuilding their lives.

You can request support from housing and homelessness charity Shelter by emailing bournemouth@shelter.org.uk

If you are at risk of losing your home, or if you’re sofa surfing, call BCP Council’s Housing Advice Team on 01202 123147 for free advice and assistance.

You can also email BCP Council’s housing team at bcphousingadvice@bcpcouncil.gov.uk or click the button below.

If you are renting privately in the BCP area and cannot afford your rent, or if you’re facing eviction, our Let’s Talk Renting service can help.

A team of friendly experts can deal with a host of tenancy-related issues, including mould and damp, disrepair, benefit claims and anti-social behaviour.

If anything is putting your private tenancy at risk, call Let’s Talk Renting on 01202 985104. You can also register online to receive a free call-back and a member of the team from Citizens Advice BCP will be in touch.

If you are unable to afford the cost of food, the Access to Food Partnership can help. There are foodbanks throughout Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole – and there’s a community meal every day in the area.

The partnership’s interactive map will direct you to a variety of foodbanks and community meals that are available locally. Click the button below to find food support near you.

If you need clothing or shoes, Hope Housing may be able to assist via its Hope & More Charity Shop.

You can find the shop at 171 Seabourne Road, Bournemouth BH5 2HH.

Hope & More offers £20 vouchers to everyone in need, to be spent in its charity shop.

Click the button below for details.

If you have financial worries, Citizens Advice BCP can help. Whether you need advice about debt, support with applying for benefits or if your money is no longer stretching to cover the bills, call the local Adviceline on 0808 2787 939 or register at www.citizensadvicebcp.org.uk/get-advice.

See if you can claim benefits or increase your current benefits: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/what-benefits-can-i-get

A Worrying About Money guide offers advice and support to anyone struggling to make ends meet. Click the button below to download the guide.

The HealthBus Trust provides accessible, tailored, specialist healthcare to people experiencing homelessness in the BCP area. Operating a mobile GP-led service, in collaboration with partners, the Trust delivers care at the point of need to people sleeping rough and in emergency accommodation.

The HealthBus runs a drop-in every Thursday, from 9 – 11.45am, at St Swithun’s Church, Gervais Road, Bournemouth BH1 3ED. HealthBus GP and nurse sessions are available, along with refreshments in a cosy cafe. A lunchtime meal is available from 12.15pm at YMCA. Click the button below to contact the HealthBus.

Non-urgent healthcare support can also be obtained via the NHS by dialling 111. For health emergencies, please dial 999.

Poole: Routes to Roots provides essentials including showers, laundry facilities and clothing at their Genesis Centre. Find out more here: https://www.routestoroots.org/charity

Bournemouth: Faithworks’ Half-Time, located at St Mike’s Church in Poole Road, Bournemouth, offers showers, lockers, toiletries and phone charging facilities. It’s open on Mondays (10am to 2pm) and Fridays (11am to 3pm). To book an appointment, call the Helpline on 07842 174241.

Boscombe: Showers and washing machines are available at the BH1 Project, run by The Salvation Army, at 107 Palmerston Road, BH1 4HP.

Are you at risk of losing your family home – or do you need to find a new property that’s suitable for families? Our family support area will guide you to services that can help in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

You’ll find contacts and advice, whether you have a housing query, want to join the housing register, need advice on housing standards or require urgent support to keep your home.

Click the button below to explore local housing options available for families.

If you need support with wellbeing and mental health, Access Wellbeing hubs in Poole and Boscombe offer a free, walk-in service from Monday to Friday. No appointment is needed.

The hubs’ friendly wellbeing co-ordinators also offer advice on education, training, employment, benefits, financial matters, support for carers, social connections and strategies for coping with bereavement and grief.

Click the button below to find out more about Access Wellbeing.

Support is available for members of the LGBT+ community who are sofa surfing, at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness.

The LGBT+ Network for Change can be contacted here: https://lgbtnetwork4change.com

LGBT+ young people can find support via the Albert Kennedy Trust: www.akt.org.uk

For mental health support, Steps2Wellbeing can help with issues including depression and anxiety. Click the button below to self-refer.

If you are experiencing homelessness following a career in the Armed Forces, visit Helping Homeless Veterans UK at www.hhvuk.org or the Dorset branch of Armed Forces charity SSAFA: www.ssafa.org.uk/dorset.

Veterans who are experiencing street homelessness can register for emergency support from Helping Homeless Veterans UK by clicking the button below.

If you have a residence permit to live in the UK with an immigration condition called No Recourse to Public Funds, it will prohibit claiming most benefits, tax credits or housing assistance.

Organisations including the Red Cross, ICN (International Care Project), DREC (Dorset Race Equality Council), Citizens Advice, St Mungo’s and Shelter collaborated to come up with practical advice and signposting to help prevent homelessness and poverty.

Click the button below to find out more.

If you are sleeping rough and need help for your pet, contact Every Paw Matters.

Their Facebook page has details of help and support on offer for pets belonging to people experiencing hardship in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Click the button below to find out more.