A NEW street outreach and resettlement worker has been appointed to help reduce the number of rough sleepers and tackle disruptive activity on the streets of St Albans.
The appointment is part of the Safe Streets project which aims to improve the health and well-being of rough sleepers and encourage them to lead a more settled way of life, by helping them find ways to end their homelessness.
Karen Smith will be based at Open Door homelessness service in Bricket Road and will work closely with the police, Community Safety Partnership, community mental health teams and other support agencies.
Her role will involve making contact with rough sleepers and supporting them to leave the streets by providing advice and referrals to health services, counselling, housing and benefits.
The post has been funded by St Albans Community Safety Partnership and was set up following the decision by NHS Hertfordshire not to renew the contract of specially-designated homeless nurse Marion Sklar last year.
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