£112 million rough sleeping funding for councils

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has revealed that more rough sleepers will be helped off the streets as a result of an extra £112 million funding allocation for councils.

Representing a 30 per cent increase this year, the funding will be used by local authorities, charities and other organisations to fund up to 6,000 new bed spaces and 2,500 support staff across the country.

The Rough Sleeping Initiative was launched in 2018 to ensure local areas were given the boost they needed to provide these vital services for those living on the streets. The funding will be used by councils to: create street-based services who will locate and support rough sleepers directly on the streets and offer them access to services; establish first stage accommodation such as hostels, Somewhere Safe to Stay hubs and emergency access beds; set up housing support providing stable, affordable accommodation and intensive wrap-around support to help people who are sleeping rough recover from complex issues and sustain their tenancies; and introduce specialist support workers including Rough Sleeping Coordinators, navigators, and specialist health and care staff.

Jenrick 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.”

Homelessness Minister Luke Hall added: “There are people all over the country working tirelessly to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in our society. Our Rough Sleeping Initiative is proving to be successful, and this funding will mean this vital work can be continued as we set out to end rough sleeping once and for all.”