The Officer Executive Decisions meeting was scheduled to discuss the procurement of a new Street Outreach Response Team service for rough sleepers in Hackney. The meeting's agenda indicated a single non-key decision was to be considered.

Street Outreach Response Team Service for Rough Sleepers in the London Borough of Hackney

The meeting was scheduled to consider the procurement of a contract for a Street Outreach Response Team (SORT) service to assist rough sleepers within the London Borough of Hackney. The proposed contract would be for a period of up to three years, with an estimated total value of £1,800,000 exclusive of VAT. The recommendation was for the Executive Director for Housing, Climate and Economy to approve this procurement via an open tender procedure.

The report pack highlighted that rough sleeping is considered harmful and dangerous, with the council committed to ending it in the borough. It noted that in the 2024-25 period, almost 300 clients were found to be rough sleeping in Hackney, an increase from the previous year. The report emphasised the devastating impact of prolonged rough sleeping on mental and physical health, citing that the average life expectancy for a homeless man is 47 and for a woman is 43. It also stated that rough sleepers are around 17 times more likely to be victims of violence.

The report outlined that street outreach services are the first point of contact for rough sleepers and play an essential role in gathering intelligence, encouraging individuals to leave the streets, connecting them to support services and accommodation, and reducing the likelihood of them returning to street life. The council has previously received funding from central government, including the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, which has been incorporated into the new Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant. Hackney's allocation for this grant for 2026-2027 is £7,727,046.

The report detailed the strategic context, referencing Hackney Council's homelessness strategy, which has been in place since 2002 and updated regularly. It also mentioned the council's statutory duty to house homeless residents and its commitment to ending rough sleeping. The preferred option was to commission a provider to ensure a seamless transition from the current contract, avoiding a break in service which could lead to increased costs and reputational damage. Insourcing the service was considered but rejected due to budgetary implications and the need for specialist staff, as well as potential difficulties in accessing grant funding.

The procurement process was planned to be an open tender, compliant with the Procurement Act 2023 and the council's Standing Orders. The report indicated that the market for such services has a limited number of providers. Key performance indicators (KPIs) were outlined, covering areas such as caseload management, street homelessness reduction, accommodation outcomes, access to healthcare, and sustainable outcomes. The report also noted that 15% of the qualitative evaluation score for this procurement would be allocated to demonstrating Sustainability and Social Value. Providers would be required to pay staff at least the London Living Wage and demonstrate a commitment to employing individuals with lived experience. The service specification also included requirements for culturally and linguistically sensitive delivery and trauma-informed approaches.

The meeting documents included the Agenda frontsheet Wednesday 02-Sep-2026 16.14 Officer Executive Decisions and the Public reports pack Wednesday 02-Sep-2026 16.14 Officer Executive Decisions.