Emergency fund launched for rough sleepers this winter
- 6 November 2024
A new £4 million emergency fund has been launched to help rough sleepers this winter.
The fund will provide local authorities with grants to help them provide essential services to rough sleepers, such as food, shelter and healthcare.
The funding will also be used to help local authorities improve their outreach services, so that they can reach more rough sleepers and help them get the support they need.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is providing the funding. The fund will be open to local authorities in England and Wales.
The Minister for Rough Sleeping and Homelessness, Eddie Hughes, said:
“No one should have to sleep rough on our streets, especially during the cold winter months.
“This new funding will help local authorities to provide essential services to rough sleepers and help them get the support they need to rebuild their lives.”
The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, welcomed the funding.
Martin Tett, the LGA’s Housing and Homelessness Spokesman, said:
“Councils are working hard to tackle the issue of rough sleeping, but they need more resources to do this effectively.
“This new funding will help councils to provide essential services to rough sleepers and help them get the support they need to rebuild their lives.”
The emergency fund is part of a wider package of measures that the government is introducing to tackle rough sleeping.
Other measures include:
- The Rough Sleeping Strategy, which sets out the government’s long-term plan to end rough sleeping
- The Homelessness Reduction Act, which places a duty on local authorities to provide support to homeless people
- The Housing First approach, which provides rough sleepers with permanent accommodation and support
The government is also working with charities and other organisations to tackle rough sleeping.
In October 2024, the government launched a new taskforce to tackle rough sleeping. The taskforce is made up of government ministers, local authority leaders, charities and other organisations.
The taskforce will work together to develop new ways to tackle rough sleeping and to ensure that everyone has access to the support they need.
Emergency fund launched for rough sleepers this winter
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