Funding for rough sleeping hubs network

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire has announced £4.8 million of funding to create a new network of 11 rough sleeping hubs across England.

As part of the government’s £100 million Rough Sleeping Strategy, the 11 Somewhere Safe to Stay centres will be set up across the country and provide specialist support for an estimated 6,000 vulnerable people to recover from life on the streets.

The centres will provide immediate shelter and rapid assessment for those sleeping rough or at risk of doing so as well as specialist support to address those with complex needs such as mental health problems and substance misuse.

The first Somewhere Safe to Stay hubs will be launched in: Brighton & Hove; Bristol; Cheshire West & Chester; Derby; Gloucestershire (encompassing the seven councils in the county); Lincoln; Liverpool; Medway; Nottingham City; Preston; and West London (encompassing seven borough councils).

The new hubs, which will be operational by Spring 2019 build upon the £64 million investment in 80 councils as part of the Rough Sleeping Initiative that was launched in March. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has also revealed that four new centres are likely to follow the 11 hubs in 2020.

Brokenshire said: “No one should ever have to face a night on the streets, and as a government we are taking steps to ensure people are never faced with this as their only option. These are vulnerable people, who may be dealing with complex mental health problems or addictions and require specialist help to tackle these issues and turn their lives around. That’s why these vital new hubs will ensure those on the streets have access to professional help and guidance to start their recovery.”