Swindon is set to receive nearly half a million pounds to tackle rough sleeping this year to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community – news which has been welcomed by North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson.
The Government this week announced that councils will receive a share of an additional £112 million through the Rough Sleeping Initiative to help get people off the streets and in to safe and secure accommodation – of which Swindon will received £464,746.
The Rough Sleeping Initiative was announced in 2018 to make an immediate impact on rough sleeping, which saw a 32% net reduction in the number of rough sleepers, compared to what the level would have been had the initiative not been in place.
Last year the Government built on the Rough Sleeping Initiative by announcing the Rapid Rehousing Pathway. The Pathway contains a number of initiatives to offer rapid assistance to people at risk of homelessness, including: Somewhere Safe to Stay hubs; specialist Navigators to act as a single point of contact to support people from the streets into settled accommodation; the establishment of Local Lettings Agencies to source, identify, or provide homes and advice for rough sleepers or those at risk; and funding for Supported Lettings initiatives, which will provide flexible support to help individuals sustain their tenancies.
Just before Christmas, the Government also announced £260 million for local authorities to help people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes to get back on their feet.
Justin Tomlinson said:
“This is excellent news, and I am pleased to see the Government continues to invest significantly in tackling rough sleeping. The government has shown it is absolutely determined to end rough sleeping, and I will work to ensure that this focus will continue.”
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said:
“We are focusing relentlessly on this issue and our efforts have already led to the first nationwide fall in rough sleeping in a decade – and the areas funded by our Rough Sleeping Initiative have seen rough sleeping numbers fall around a third more than they would be without this vital programme.
“We are focusing relentlessly on this issue and our efforts have already led to the first nationwide fall in rough sleeping in a decade – and the areas funded by our Rough Sleeping Initiative have seen rough sleeping numbers fall around a third more than they would be without this vital programme.
