A local authority, notable for having one of the highest rates of rough sleeping, is introducing “personal passports” to assist individuals navigating homelessness services.

These passports enable individuals with experience of rough sleeping to document their personal information, facilitating communication with services such as the NHS and housing providers.

The initiative aims to eliminate the need for individuals to repeatedly share sensitive information, which Camden Council describes as “re-traumatizing, exhausting, and confusing.”

While rough sleeping numbers across London have seen a decline for the first time in three years, Camden has experienced a continued rise, recording a 26% increase this year.

The council released its five-year strategy to tackle homelessness last week, outlining plans to develop new temporary accommodations and hundreds of social and affordable housing units.

Additionally, they have extended Wi-Fi access in hostel rooms and revised policies to allow more rough sleepers to bring their pets with them into accommodation.

The passport initiative was created in consultation with individuals who have personally faced homelessness, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

This program was initially piloted three years ago for residents who had transitioned to living independently after experiencing homelessness and is now set for broader implementation.

Among all boroughs in London, Camden consistently ranks as having the second-highest rate of homelessness, surpassed only by Westminster.

Councillor Anna Wright, the council’s cabinet minister for health, stated that the strategy acknowledges “the profound effects of homelessness on health and wellbeing.”