Ealing Council is extending its rough sleeping services through an interim contract with St Mungo's, ensuring continuity of support for vulnerable individuals in the borough. Ealing currently has the highest number of rough sleepers in West London, making these services essential.
The Ealing Council Cabinet, during its meeting on Wednesday 15 October 2025, agreed to formalise the existing arrangement by directly awarding an interim contract to St Mungo's for the provision of a Rough Sleeping Service until 30th September 2027. This decision was made to ensure uninterrupted service provision, especially given the complexity of the client group and the time required to procure a new contract.
The previous contract for Rough Sleeping services provided a bespoke service to a vulnerable cohort of single homeless residents. Outreach and associated services are essential to address this complex need and increasing demand.
The interim contract will allow sufficient time for a thorough review of service needs, market capacity, and funding arrangements. This will ensure that any future procurement is strategically aligned with the council's commissioning priorities and national funding cycles. The interim contract will also provide stability for service users and staff while enabling a robust and inclusive commissioning process.
The Cabinet also agreed to procure a new contract for the provision of a Rough Sleeping Service for a period of 3 years. The new contract, valued at approximately £4.2 million, will be advertised in the open market and tendered in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, specifically under the light touch regime requirements.
The Rough Sleeping Strategy supports the council's goals around inequality, public health, and inclusive economic growth. The council's decision is detailed in the Printed Minutes Wednesday 15-Oct-2025 17.00 Cabinet.
