The proposal is one of several projects set to come forward in the coming year as part of efforts to reduce the number of people sleeping on the streets.
Members of the city council’s housing scrutiny panel received an annual review on rough sleeping at a meeting on Thursday, March 5.
Maria Byrne, head of housing need and support, said: “Southampton faces sustained rough sleeping pressures.
“It is not going away.
“We are seeing an increase of presentations, a lot due to complex need and our biggest issue here in Southampton is around long-term rough sleeping.
“We recognise the accommodation pathway that we have now although it is a good provision it doesn’t address everyone’s needs.”
Latest figures from November 2025 show there were more than 50 people sleeping rough across the month, with the majority having done so long term.
The panel was told challenges in Southampton included high numbers of individuals with no local connection, short notice discharges from institutions, such as prisons, recruitment and retention issues across providers, and people with increasingly complex needs.
A report prepared for the meeting said in 2026/27 the council would be looking to secure a permanent night shelter to provide immediate, off-the-street accommodation.
The briefing paper said: “This facility will offer a secure environment that encourages engagement and supports access to long-term housing and support services.”
There are currently two intensive hostels in the city provided by Society of St James.
Each site has six “low threshold beds”, which provide accommodation with minimal barriers for those rough sleeping.
The service can be accessed between 4pm and 10am each day, with the aim of suitable move on accommodation with the appropriate level of support being achieved within 28 days.
Other plans for the next year include reintroducing a dedicated officer in the hospital to provide housing advice and coordination in an attempt to prevent discharges to street homelessness.
A dedicated social worker post will also be created to engage with rough sleepers who might need adult social care support.
The local authority is planning to give its existing providers the opportunity to come to the table with new evidence-backed ideas to prevent rough sleeping and support recovery through a procurement process.