Kensington and Chelsea, one of the richest local authorities in the UK, has successfully bid for a chunk of government cash to help homeless people in the borough get into their own homes.

The government said it was allocating £19.5m to 54 housing projects across England to assist homeless people “or those at risk of becoming homeless” secure their own tenancy.

Housing minister Heather Wheeler said the money would be shared among the schemes, which would then help people pay for a rental deposit or a first month’s rent.