City of York and North Yorkshire councils will share £1,062,675 under the government's Rough Sleeper Programme, with a pledge to offer every rough sleeper a route off the streets by Christmas.
More than £1m has been allocated to City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council to help end rough sleeping across the region.
The cabinet of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority approved the allocation of Rough Sleeper Programme funding at its meeting on 6 November. The aim is for everyone sleeping rough in York and North Yorkshire to be offered a route off the streets by Christmas.
How the rough sleeping funding will be split
The two councils will share £1,062,675 in the first year of the scheme:
- City of York Council: £484,314
- North Yorkshire Council: £578,361
The councils plan to spend the money on rapid support and accommodation for people sleeping rough, support for those most affected over the long term, and longer-term accommodation.
Three-year programme worth £4.3m
The funding was allocated to YNYCA by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It is part of a proposed three-year programme worth £4.3m in total, running up to and including 2028/29. The later years remain subject to confirmation by MHCLG.
Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan
At the same meeting, the YNYCA cabinet approved its Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan, which will be submitted to government in early December. The plan aims to make homelessness and rough sleeping "rare, brief and non-recurring" in the region.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
"Not everyone has a safe place to call home, so by Christmas we'll offer everyone a route off the streets.
"With this extra funding we're strengthening the work already happening here, and tackling the root causes that prevent people getting the support they need.
"Working together, we can help some of the most vulnerable people in the county and deliver on our national drive to end homelessness."
Cllr Anna Perrett, Executive Member for Housing at City of York Council, said the city has "a great track record" in meeting its commitment to rough sleepers. She said:
"This funding will enhance existing support in helping us move rough sleepers in York into the safe and stable accommodation they need. It will be allocated in line with the city and region approach we are developing, which will be presented in a new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy action plan to Executive next month."
She added that the council is working closely with partners in health, probation and the voluntary and community sector. "By working directly with people sleeping rough to meet their individual needs, we can find them suitable accommodation with tailored support, and ultimately a lasting tenancy that helps get them back on their feet," she said.
Rough sleeping rising nationally
According to the government, rough sleeping has risen nationally in recent years. An estimated 4,793 people were sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025. In August, the government reinforced its ambition to end rough sleeping by announcing its Rough Sleeping Programme.
Image credit: iStock
