£174m funding boost to provide homes for rough sleepers

Councils will be able to provide thousands of homes for rough sleepers, thanks to a £174m government funding boost announced today.

The funding aims to help rough sleepers across the country off the streets and into long-term homes by creating over 2,900 move-on homes between 2021 and 2024, as part of the £433m Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme.

The housing provided will include refurbished flats from unlettable homes in disrepair and new built properties, converted hotels and schools.

The accommodation will be provided with specially trained support workers who will be offering treatment for mental health issues and substance misuse to help long-term rough sleepers and newly homeless people remain in their tenancies and into employment or training.

Eddie Hughes, Minister for Housing and Rough Sleeping, said: ‘One person sleeping rough on our streets is one too many, and more is needed to help people who find themselves in this terrible situation.

‘That’s why I’m delighted to announce this funding for the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, which is supporting people to access housing and, crucially, specialist support to rebuild their lives and become independent again.

‘This government does not just want to make a dent in the number of rough sleepers – we want to end rough sleeping for good, and through innovative programmes like this we’re on track to ensure no one is forced to spend a night on the streets.’

Areas benefitting from the funding include Bedford, Nottingham, London, Bristol, Liverpool and West Lindsey.

The programme is part of the government’s drive to end rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament, backed by over £2bn for rough sleeping and homelessness services over the next three years.

In related news, three new partnerships in Wales have been awarded over £8.3m of National Lottery funding to help tackle homelessness.

Photo by Dimi Katsavaris