Environmental enforcement officers (EEOs) in Ealing have begun using new technology to help rough sleepers connect with local support services, as part of a partnership between APCOA and Ealing Council.
EEOs have been equipped with an app on their handheld devices that links them directly to StreetLink – a national platform that allows rough sleepers to be identified and referred to local outreach teams. The officers, who already monitor streets and parks as part of their daily duties, can now use the app to alert StreetLink with the exact location of someone seen sleeping rough, along with a description to help support teams find and assist them quickly.
As well as Ealing, the initiative is also being introduced in Hounslow where APCOA has a contract to provide services to the borough.
StreetLink, which launched in September 2023, has already processed over 52,000 alerts and supported more than 6,000 people across England and Wales in its first eight months.
Councillor Louise Brett, cabinet member for safe and genuinely affordable homes at Ealing Council, said: “Helping those who are sleeping rough remains a top priority for Ealing Council, and we’re committed to doing everything we can to support them.”
Councillor Brett added: “By working with APCOA officers on the ground and making use of tools like the StreetLink app, we’re working smarter to ensure people aren’t overlooked and can be connected with local services quickly and effectively.”
Kim Challis, APCOA regional managing director UK&I, added: “We are so pleased to be working in partnership with Ealing Council and Hounslow Council to support the work of StreetLink as part of our Environmental Enforcement contracts. Adding social value to the communities in which we work is an important part of our ethos as a business and we are delighted to support such an impactful initiative.”
 in Ealing have begun using new technology to help rough sleepers connect with local support services, as part of a partnership between APCOA and Ealing Council.){kind=link}