John Baron MP welcomes £150 million for rough sleepers

MP: Government recognises many rough sleepers need specialist support

The Government has announced over £150 million investment to provide 3,300 new longer-term homes for rough sleepers across England. Since the start of the pandemic the Government’s ‘Everyone in’ plan has helped over 29,000 rough sleepers and other vulnerable people.

The new announcement will ensure rough sleepers have more settled homes to move into and provides funding to local partners to deliver this move-on accommodation. Essex County Council has been allocated £677,660 of such funding for 2020-21.

This funding sits alongside the £91.5 million the Government is providing to councils to support vulnerable people and provide short term accommodation over the coming months, as well as a £10 million Cold Weather Fund to help councils keep rough sleepers safe this winter.

John said,

“I welcome the Government’s commitment to end rough sleeping and its announcement of 3,300 new longer term homes. It is good the Government recognises that once in their new home many rough sleepers will need specialist support. A report by CHAIN showed that a large percentage of rough sleepers needed specialise help for mental health and/or substance abuse.”