Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Mayor approves rough sleeping grant funding

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, has approved £1.75 million in funding to local councils to help tackle rough sleeping in the region, including a focus on giving people are route off the street by Christmas.

The move follows the Government's August announcement of £442 million in funding via its Rough Sleeping Programme for councils and mayoral authorities across the country. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is set to receive more than £7.3 million through the programme by 2029. 

The funding supports the Government's commitment to end rough sleeping. As part of the announcement, the Prime Minister confirmed that Mayors will play a leading role in driving local action and making decisions that reflect the needs of their communities. 

Paul Bristow has now approved the approach for managing the Combined Authority's allocation across local authorities, in line with Government requirements. 

The funding can be used by local authorities to meet immediate need, strengthen local prevention work, help people into longer-term settled accommodation, and provide intensive support for those who have experienced long-term rough sleeping.  

The Mayor and Combined Authority will work in partnership with constituent councils and local charities. Funding allocations are informed by rough sleeping data for key areas across the county. 

A wide range of support services already are in operation across the region, so this will aim to strengthen the approach and support on-going projects.  

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow said: This funding will not only help change the lives of those being given somewhere to sleep but will also address key regional issues that lead to someone ending up in this position. 

As Mayor, I will be making sure we use this money where it will have the greatest impact across our region. 

The Government is right to back Mayors, councils and voluntary organisations to do this place-by-place, and I look forward to working with local leaders to shape and support schemes that focus on the people and communities that need it most. 

Notes to editor

Notes to editors:  

The allocations as set out by MHCLG are:  

These have been based on the MHCLG Single Homelessness and Rough Sleeping formula, using a 12-month rolling average of rough sleeping data.