28.01.20
£112m rough sleeping fund announced for councils
Government has announced £112m in funding for councils to support rough sleepers into accommodation.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has today (Jan 28) set aside a £112m Rough Sleeping Initiative funding for councils to share to tackle homelessness.
The funding is a 30% increase this year and will be split between local authorities, charities and other organisations to fund up to 6,000 new bed spaces and 2,500 support staff across the country.
The money will work to support vulnerable people to get the support they need to find long-term solutions to their situations. This includes accessing safe accommodation, mental health or addiction services or advice on how to rebuild their lives.
Street-based services and outreach teams will be funded under the new scheme, to locate and support rough sleepers into safe housing.
Analysis shows that numbers of rough sleepers are 32% lower in areas that have received funding through the initiative, proving a vital measure to help government reach its target of ending homelessness by the end of this parliament.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP said:
“No-one should have to face a night on the street and we have a moral duty to support those who need help the most. It is encouraging to see more people getting the support they need, but there is always more to do.
“We are focusing relentlessly on this issue and our efforts have already led to the first nationwide fall in rough sleeping in a decade – and the areas funded by our Rough Sleeping Initiative have seen rough sleeping numbers fall around a third more than they would be without this vital programme, but we need to go further. That is why we are providing this funding so vital work can continue as we set out to end rough sleeping once and for all.”
The Rough Sleeping Initiative was launched in 2018 to help local areas protect rough sleepers in the area through these vital services.