What to do:

Our partners have all reacted to the deepening cost-of-living crisis. Everyone wants to ensure that people can easily access the help and advice they need. For general advice on where you can get support concerning the cost-of-living visit Citizens Advice or the UK government's advice page.

Your local council offers help and or advice with the cost of living. If you are not sure which district you are in, please use the top link first:

Which district council should I contact?

I am worried about the cost of living in Oxford City

I am worried about the cost of living in Cherwell

I am worried about the cost of living in South Oxfordshire

I am worried about the cost of living in Vale of White Horse

I am worried about the cost of living in West Oxfordshire

Find more advice on specific issues below:

I can’t afford my rent

If you’re worried about losing your home, you should get advice as early as possible. Go to our eviction risk advice page to learn more.

If you’re in danger of losing your home and want to gain control over your finances and housing then you can contact the Connection Support’s Housing Support Team.

Shelter can help you understand your rights and get the support you need with Private Renting, Eviction, Mortgage Repossession, Tenancy Deposits and Council Housing.

If you are a permanent council house tenant in Oxford, you can seek help with managing your tenancy from the council's Tenancy Sustainment Team.

For general advice visit the UK’s largest tenant support community, The Tenants’ Voice.

I can’t afford food

You can get free or cheap food at day service venues. This is a summary of daytime services in Oxfordshire which shows exactly who is open and when. Oxford city council also has collated all of the free and low-cost food options in Oxford. You can also download this document in both print and online versions.

For emergency food parcels and ready meals, you can contact Oxford Mutual Aid via:

Phone: 07310 160595

Email: support@oxfordmutalaid.org support@oxfordmutualaid.org

I’m in debt

Citizens Advice Oxford can provide suggestions for alleviating debt contact via:

Phone: 0808 278 7808

Email: Google Form

For more advice on debt solutions, you can visit their website which offers advice on a range of debt topics including Bankruptcy, Budgeting, Getting Financial Advice, Debt Management Plans and Debt Remedy Tool.

For confidential and independent advice on dealing with debt in the UK, you can call or visit the National Debt line on 0808 808 4000.

I can’t afford my bills

To find out what steps you can take if you’re struggling to pay energy bills you can visit Citizens Advice.

For advice on saving energy visit the government's website or call 0800 444 202.

To know how to spot an energy scam visit Energy Saving Trust.

If you are an individual, small business, nursery or school within the Vale of White Horse district you can apply for the Wantage & Grove Energy Support Fund.

I need other advice

For free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information, get in touch with Citizens Advice Oxford via:

Phone: 0808 278 7808

Email

Find your local advice team

Online web chat

We want to hear from you if you’ve got a question that’s not answered here. We will try and respond as soon as possible and will use your feedback to improve the site. Please get in touch.

High temperature can affect anyone, but people experiencing homelessness are at particular risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, heatstroke and sunburn. 

Oxford City Council has issued some very clear advice for anyone experiencing homelessness who needs help during hot weather and offers advice about how people can help. Links to the organisations mentioned in the article can be found below and also links to additional partners who offer daytime services in Oxfordshire. The list below also includes your first port of call, which should be the outreach team, OxSPOT in Oxford and Connection Support outside the city. You can also report a concern through the StreetLink website or app, or by calling 0300 500 0914

For more information on hot weather and homelessness, please see the information provided by Homeless Link.  

People outside Oxford should contact Connection Support or their own council in the first instance:

Cherwell District Council - 01295 753 751 or 01295 221 531 out of hours

South Oxfordshire District Council - 01235 422 452 or 01235 422 410 out of hours

Vale of White Horse District Council - 01235 422 452 or 01235 422 420 out of hours

West Oxfordshire District Council - 01993 861 000 or 0151 343 2945 out of hours

For people experiencing homelessness it can be hard to get online, especially if you are sleeping outside. Many of our partner organisations will help you to do this when you access their services.

If you want to get online when not accessing services or when they might be closed, Oxfordshire County Council welcomes everyone to all of their 44 libraries and it is free to join.

There is a project in Oxfordshire that refurbishes donated devices, and passes them to people who need them. It also helps people to access the data, training and support they need to get online. Through a collaborative, partnership approach, Getting Oxfordshire Online is putting the infrastructure in place to deliver a sustainable, long-term solution to the problem of digital exclusion.

Our partners have all reacted very quickly and have tailored their services to fit with the requirements of social distancing - everyone wants to ensure that people are kept safe whilst getting the help that they need. 

Current advice is for people new to the streets to go to Floyd's Row (at the bottom of St Aldates beyond Christ Church) on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10.00-13.00, where they will be offered help, advice and a help to find a place to stay.

The most up to date information on and guidance about coronavirus can be found on the NHS website. 

Oxford City Council also have information on their website that may be useful for specific local questions.

Your first port of call should be one of the outreach teams:

OxSPOT in Oxford 

Connection Support outside the city

If you’re sleeping rough, OxSPOT or Connection Support will assess you and help you find the accommodation and support you need. 

During severe weather or every time the temperature falls to zero degrees Celsius or below (Met Office forecast) Oxford City Council activates a Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) in order to provide emergency shelter overnight. The council will also use its discretion to activate SWEP during other severe weather, such as snow on the ground, sub-zero 'feels like' temperatures, or a warmer night during a prolonged freezing spell.

This winter Oxfordshire district councils have agreed to operate SWEP on a countywide basis. However, discretion may be used to activate SWEP on a localised basis in circumstances where there is snow forecast in just one part of the county, or similar.

KEY INFORMATION about SWEP in Oxford

• SWEP will be activated by the city council when the temperature is forecast to fall to zero degrees Celsius, or below
• The council will also use its discretion to activate SWEP during other severe weather, such as snow on the ground, sub-zero 'feels like' temperatures, or a warmer night during a prolonged freezing spell
• 30 spaces have been identified for SWEP
• People who need access to SWEP who are not identified during the day will be able to present at O’Hanlon House between 11pm and midnight in order to be allocated a bed
• A local connection to Oxfordshire is NOT required to access SWEP, and nor are other eligibility requirements associated with accessing other housing services
• St Mungo’s will co-ordinate access to SWEP allocating individuals to accommodation during the day
• St Mungo’s will ensure that all clients who access SWEP (if not already known) are offered a full assessment of their needs and support in order to be offered longer term solutions to their homelessness

There is more information about SWEP on the council website.

People outside Oxford who want a SWEP bed during freezing winter weather should contact Connection Support or their own council in the first instance:

Cherwell District Council - 01295 753 751 or 01295 221 531 out of hours

South Oxfordshire District Council - 01235 422 452 or 01235 422 410 out of hours

Vale of White Horse District Council - 01235 422 452 or 01235 422 420 out of hours

West Oxfordshire District Council - 01993 861 000 or 0151 343 2945 out of hours

SWEP is now CLOSED.

For what to do in an emergency see the Oxfordshire Mental Health Partnership website.

If your need is less immediate there are numerous organisation that can help and support you.

You can read much more about what the OMHP can offer in this helpful booklet or find out more about the partnership by selecting OMHP from the organisation list below. 

If you are interested in helping people with their mental health then please take a look at this leaflet on volunteering.

A dog is man's (or woman's!) best friend and if you are living on the streets, it is great to know that there are people that can help keep your friend fit and healthy.

The organisations below offer free of charge help for dogs that live on the streets with their owners.

In the city, your first port of call should be OxSPOT or if outside the city then you should contact Connection Support. If you’re sleeping rough in Oxford, OxSPOT will assess you and help you find the accommodation and support you need to rebuild your life. If you are outside of the city, Connection Support can help.

The Gatehouse and Aspire run a joint project offering a tailored service once a week for women called Oxford Women's Hub, details can be found below.

Homeless Oxfordshire run a women-only housing project for people who have been verified by the outreach team, OxSPOT.  Aspire also offer a women only house.

If you are currently experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence or abuse, you may be able to get advice and support from the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Service or the Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre.

If you’re worried about someone sleeping rough, you can let OxSPOT know if it is in Oxford, outside of the city it is Connection Support. For either you can also let StreetLink know about them – including where they normally sleep.

OxSPOT, Connection Support and StreetLink aren’t emergency services but they will follow up all calls and referrals as quickly as possible. If your health or someone else’s is in immediate danger, please call 999.

For further advice about helping people sleeping rough during coronavirus, please click here

If you’re sleeping outside you can discuss your options in the first instance with OxSPOT in Oxford and Connection Support outside the city. If you’ve got a bed in supported accommodation, please speak to your support worker.

You can also contact the organisations below directly.

If you are a service provider and you want to help someone with their level of literacy, Read Easy Oxford provide a free service to help with this, their contact details are in the list below.

Your first port of call should be the outreach teams, OxSPOT in Oxford and Connection Support outside the city. If you’re sleeping rough they will assess you and help you find the accommodation and support you need to rebuild your life. This could include helping you return home if you want to.

At the moment, you need a local connection to access council-funded supported accommodation.

You may be able to find a bed through services that aren't funded by the council, such as ACT, Aspire and Edge Housing.

You can use day services at all times and emergency beds during the winter.

You don’t have to have ID to use all services. If you need help obtaining ID, one of the organisations below may be able to help you.

Your first port of call should be the outreach teams, OxSPOT for Oxford and Connections Support outside the city who will be able to offer you advice and support. 

You can get warm and get free or cheap food at day service venues. Some venues also offer showers and free, clean clothes. Please be aware that during the coronavirus outbreak, many of the providers are changing their offering and some may be offering takeaway only food to try and ensure everyone stays safe.

Some student and community groups also provide help directly to people on the streets.

Please take a look at the summary of daytime services in Oxfordshire which shows exactly who is open and when. You can also download this document in both print and online version.

Oxford City Council has also collaborated with Feeding the Gaps and Good Food Oxford to create a map and database of services providing free or subsidised food within Oxfordshire.

If you’re not already registered with a GP, you can register with Luther Street Medical Centre who provide medical care to people experiencing homelessness.

Luther Street Medical Centre isn’t an emergency service. If your health or someone else’s is in immediate danger, please call 999.

Your first port of call should be the outreach teams, OxSPOT for Oxford and Connection Support outside the city. If you’re sleeping rough they will assess you and help you find the accommodation and support you need to rebuild your life.

Citizens Advice Oxford and neighbourhood advice centres listed below may be able to help if you need to claim welfare benefits or have an issue with benefits you are claiming at the moment.

You can get warm, shower, change your clothes and get free or cheap food at day services at The Porch.

The Gatehouse Café also provides a safe and welcoming place to eat and there are a number of other providers of food and clothing listed below.

Some student and community groups also provide clothes directly to people on the streets.

If you're an EU national, homeless and not working, you may not have the right to claim benefits or housing in the UK.

Your first port of call should be the outreach teams, OxSPOT in Oxford and Connection Support outside the city. If you’re sleeping rough, they will assess you and help you find the accommodation and support you need to rebuild your life - if you are eligible for help.

If you're not entitled to benefits or housing, the outreach teams may be able to help you return home if you want to, or link you in with services who can help you into or back into work.

You can use day services at all times and access emergency accommodation during the winter.

Your first port of call should be the outreach teams, OxSPOT for Oxford and Connection Support outside the city. If you’re sleeping rough, they will assess you and help you find the accommodation and support you need to rebuild your life.

If you’re sleeping rough, you can talk to OxSPOT in the city, Connection Support outside the city, or Luther Street about the help that may be available. If you’re in supported accommodation, you can also speak to your support worker.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) does not hold meetings specifically for homeless people, but you can find an AA meeting near you on their website.

Please also see information on how to deliver Alcohol Brief Intervention. 

The services on this page are not emergency services. If your health or someone else’s is in immediate danger, please call 999.

If you’re worried about losing your home, you should get advice as early as possible. Your local council has to try to prevent you from becoming homeless, click on the links below to find out more. If you are not sure which district you are in, please use the top link first:

Which district council should I contact?

I am worried about being evicted in Oxford City

I am worried about being evicted in Cherwell

I am worried about being evicted in South Oxfordshire

I am worried about being evicted in Vale of White Horse

I am worried about being evicted in West Oxfordshire

We want to hear from you if you’ve got a question that’s not answered here. We will try and respond as soon as possible and will use your feedback to improve the site. Please email hello@oxfordshirehomelessmovement.org, drop us a line on social media or Get in touch.

Your first port of call should be the outreach teams, OxSPOT for Oxford and Connections Support outside the city. If you’re sleeping rough, they will assess you and help you find the accommodation and support you need to rebuild your life. You can also contact Streetlink who can offer advice.

You need to be verified by the outreach teams before you can access most beds and services funded by councils.

During the pandemic people can also go along to Floyd's Row (at the bottom of St Aldates beyond Christ Church) on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10.00–13.00, where people will be offered advice and help to find a place to stay.