Exeter

Exeter is a compact cathedral city in Devon, historic and prosperous-looking on the surface, with a university crowd, a busy high street, and a river that cuts through green space where a lot of rough sleeping happens quietly. That surface prosperity is real for many: average household income in the area runs close to £36,000 a year, well above the national median. But Devon County Council figures from 2023 recorded over 400 people sleeping rough or in temporary accommodation across the county on any given night, and Exeter carries a large share of that number because services and shelters cluster here. St Petrock's is the name most people mention first, offering daytime shelter, meals, and help with getting documents sorted. Julian House runs outreach and accommodation support if you're new to the streets here and don't know where to start. CoLab Exeter and the Exeter Foodbank can help with food and basic supplies when money runs out before the week does. The city's smaller than it looks, word travels fast between services, and someone here has likely faced what you're facing now — you're not invisible, and you're not without options.