MHCLG announces funding for councils to help prevent people from sleeping rough
The government has announced £84m extra in funding for homelessness.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has today confirmed an extra £70m for the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant.
This is flexible funding for 62 councils to prevent people sleeping rough and help keep them off the streets.
An extra £11m will be used to help families with children living in temporary accommodation access basic facilities such as Wi-Fi, laundry, travel passes for school and uniform, and help pay for food and leisure activities.
This will be targeted at 61 areas with the highest number of children in temporary accommodation. There will also be a £3 million increase in the Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Recovery and Improvement Grant.
It is understood the money is on top of the £1bn the government is investing in homelessness prevention this year.
Rachael Williamson, director of policy, communications and external affairs at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: “CIH warmly welcomes this extra funding, especially as winter approaches and with homelessness rising. It will provide much-needed support to people and families facing crisis right now.
“But short-term help must go hand in hand with a long-term plan. A national homelessness strategy, backed by sustained investment, would allow councils and frontline charities to move from crisis response to delivering sustainable interventions that truly end homelessness.”
Steve Reed, housing secretary said: “Homelessness is a moral stain on our society. Growing numbers of people have been abandoned to sleep rough on the streets and children left in squalid, overcrowded conditions.
”This government will not stand idly by and allow that to continue.”
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