The Government has today committed over £1.8 million of immediate support for rough sleepers in Devon and Cornwall.
A total of £30 million is being distributed by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to 83 councils across England to ensure that people living on the streets have access to accommodation.
The money will see 1,750 additional bed spaces for rough sleepers and another 531 dedicated homelessness workers. Cornwall will receive over £437,000, while Exeter, North Devon, Plymouth and Torbay will get over £1.4 million.
Housing Secretary James Brokenshire said:
“No one should ever have to sleep rough. I am determined that more people living on the streets and those at risk this coming winter get the help they need now.
“That’s why I am making £30 million available that will help councils boost the immediate support they are able to offer. Whether this pays for more beds or more outreach workers this will make a real difference now.
“Many challenging factors lie behind rough sleeping, from mental health problems to addiction and our long-term strategy to be published this summer will outline how we plan to tackle them and eliminate rough sleeping for good.”
The extra money comes ahead of the Government publishing its long term Rough Sleeping Strategy next month that has been developed in partnership with charities and local government. It will set out a comprehensive plan to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and eliminate it entirely by 2027 by ensuring those sleeping rough have appropriate routes away from the streets
North Cornwall MP Scott Mann said:
“I’m very pleased to see more money being committed to help people living on the streets in Cornwall. The Government committed £1.5 million last year to ensure that rough sleepers in the county could access help, advice and accommodation, and this new tranche of funding will provide vital immediate support to those who need a place to stay.
“In combination with the £1.4 million for councils in Devon and the upcoming Rough Sleeping Strategy, we can ensure that help, support and accommodation is in place for homeless people across the region.”