The Government has announced that more than £200 million pounds of additional funding will be allocated to local authorities across England, to help tackle rough sleeping and provide appropriate support for people living on the street. Watford will be receiving more than £500,000 to help support local organisations that work with those who are sleeping rough.
Dean said “In this day and age, no one should have to sleep on the street, and I am pleased that the Government has reiterated its strong and continuing commitment to end rough sleeping.
“I have spoken in the Commons before about the fantastic work which happens in Watford thanks to organisations such as New Hope and One YMCA, and whilst I welcome the £4 million of government funding which had already been allocated in the past 12 months or so, this additional half a million will really help with the ambition to end rough sleeping in Watford, and to turn lives around.”
Dean continued, “We have seen huge moves during the pandemic to get people off the street and into accommodation to help with a fresh start. I am pleased that we are seeing such a joined-up approach to tackle this issue, by bringing together departments such as housing, mental health care, drug, and alcohol addiction support. Putting a roof over someone’s head is just the start, a whole package of care is required, and this is why we need to ensure that local organisations are getting the support that they need.”
ENDS
Notes to the editor:
The Rough Sleeping Initiative 2021/22 will build on past successes, providing ongoing support to those who need it, and a route into settled accommodation. This year, it will also provide additional resource to continue supporting work to protect people sleeping rough from the COVID- 19 pandemic.
This year’s Rough Sleeping Initiative has expanded to cover 281 local authorities in England, an increase from the 270 authorities funded in 2020/21. It will provide funding for 14,500 bed spaces and 2,700 full time equivalent staff to deliver interventions to support those on the street, as well as helping local authorities and other providers transition to longer term preventative support.
Today’s funding announcement is just one part of the £750 million that this Government will be spending this financial year on homelessness and rough sleeping and demonstrates our continued commitment to end rough sleeping.
Of course, money alone is not the answer to this complex, multi-faceted issue. We need to bring together housing, mental health care, drug and alcohol addiction support, criminal justice and ensure concerted and determined action by local government, the NHS and many other agencies of government. We are determined to ensure no one needs to sleep rough and those in that position are swiftly offered a helping hand.
