The panel
Helen Baker, chair, Shelter
Michelle Dawson, managing director, community services, Abri
Ralph Facey, executive director of operations, Abri
Martin George, features editor, LGC (roundtable chair)
Joe Kane-Smith, local authority lead, Crisis
Stephen Philpott, strategic lead for rough sleeping, Birmingham City Council
Trevor Pickup, chief executive, Society of St James
Melanie Rees, head of policy & external affairs, Chartered Institute of Housing
Lígia Teixeira, chief executive, Centre for Homelessness Impact
Suzannah Young, policy office, National Housing Federation
When the pandemic struck, large organisations scrambled to put their employees on a telephone or digital-only basis. But Birmingham City Council’s rough sleeping team realised a different approach was called for.