Hundreds of families will be prevented from becoming homeless and
rough sleepers will be helped off the streets thanks to over £220
million of government funding being given to councils today.
The Minister for Housing and Homelessness has announced the funding
boost which targets areas most in need and includes specialist
support for the most vulnerable who require mental health or
substance misuse support.
Further funding includes:
- £107 million to provide more than 800 homes for rough
sleepers. The money is being made available immediately to
councils to purchase or rent properties to give rough sleepers a
safe space to stay whilst they rebuild their lives off the
streets.
- A £109 million boost to the Homelessness Prevention Grant,
the funding can be used by councils to prevent evictions before
they occur or fund temporary accommodation. Bringing the total
fund to £1.2 billion, with more than 160,000 people supported
since the scheme opened in 2022.
- A further £6 million to boost the number off-street spaces
for rough sleepers in winter, to provide warm and safe places to
sleep and access services.
This brings total government investment to £2.4 billion over
three years (2022-25) to tackle homelessness and end rough
sleeping for good.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness said:
We are working alongside councils and charities to do all we can
to help rough sleepers off the streets and to prevent
homelessness.
Today’s announcement brings the total funding to tackle
homelessness and rough sleeping to an unprecedented £2.4 billion,
meaning we can help thousands of the most vulnerable people and
give them the support they need to rebuild their lives.
The councils receiving additional funding to tackle homelessness
and rough sleeping include:
- London boroughs will receive a combined £38 million for extra
homes, beds and specialist mental health and substance misuse
services for rough sleepers.
- Sheffield City Council will be given over £3 million which
will include providing 10 properties for those with a history of
rough sleeping.
- City of Liverpool will receive over £2 million to deliver 20
homes for single homeless young people to help them live
independently to prevent a repeating cycle of homelessness.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has
partnered with councils to design tailored support for the issues
in their area.
Government departments are working hand-in-hand with the
homelessness sector and its partners in local government to
tackle homelessness, including:
- Delivering 5,000 homes through the Rough Sleeping
Accommodation Programme giving stable, long-term accommodation to
those sleeping rough.
- Introducing the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment
Grant has helped over 10,600 vulnerable people access the help
they need.
- Providing accommodation for Ex-Offenders programme which has
supported 2,750 ex-offenders into their own homes in the private
rented sector.
Today’s funding boost builds on the Government’s strategy to
tackle homelessness and end rough sleeping for good.
Further information
City of Liverpool YMCA
YMCA Together have be given over £2 million to deliver 20 homes
for single homeless young people across Liverpool. The funding
will enable young people to move on to more independent living,
equipped and empowered with the tools to prevent a repeating
cycle of homelessness.
Jon Metcalf (Deputy Chief Exec City of Liverpool YMCA ):
We’re delighted with the announcement of SHAP funding in
Liverpool which will enable us to create much needed homes for
younger people experiencing homelessness and together with
support that we will be able to provide we aim to help people
develop their social capital so that they’re able to navigate
safely through a challenging time in their lives.
- The Homelessness Code of Guidance is being updated to make it
explicit that temporary accommodation should not be considered
suitable for a family with children under two if there is not
enough space for a cot and that housing authorities should
support families to secure a cot where needed. This will help to
ensure families can follow safer sleeping guidance and help
prevent avoidable infant deaths.
- The StreetLink campaign is now running which enables members
of the public to alert local council outreach workers if they see
someone sleeping rough. Investment from government has made it
simpler than ever for people to support a person sleeping rough
off the streets and into safe accommodation. See more here:
StreetLink - Connecting people
sleeping rough to local services (thestreetlink.org.uk)
