Shaun Davies, MP for Telford, has praised the Government’s commitment to ending homelessness, after it announced £84m in prevention funding to mark World Homelessness Day.
The £84m will be distributed across local authorities – with £4.4m for local authorities across the West Midlands – to tackle homelessness through local services. The funding boost includes an uplift of almost £70m for the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant; nearly £11m in support services for children and families; a £3m top-up for Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment; and £200,000 for the Voluntary, Community and Frontline Sector Grant.
Winter is traditionally the most dangerous time of year for those who are homeless and sleeping rough, so the Government’s intention is to invest in local services to support those trapped in temporary accommodation, at risk of homelessness or currently sleeping rough to stay safe over the winter and beyond.
This announcement follows the Government’s previous initiatives to tackle homelessness, including £950m funding to increase the supply of high-quality temporary accommodation; a £39bn investment in increasing the social and affordable housing supply; and banning ‘no-fault’ evictions through the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Shaun said: “No one should have to sleep on the streets. Far too many people slip into homelessness through no fault of their own, falling through the cracks of overstretched local services. I am proud of the work which Telford & Wrekin Council has done in recent years to tackle homelessness locally and I’m glad to see them getting the resources they need to keep doing it. It’s so important to notify the team if you see someone sleeping on the streets—especially as we now head into the colder months.”
Housing Secretary Steve Reed MP said: “Homelessness is a moral stain on our society. Growing numbers of people have been abandoned to sleep rough on the streets and children left in squalid, overcrowded conditions. This government will not stand idly by and allow that to continue. We will make different choices. That’s why we are investing £1 billion to give homeless people the security of a roof over their heads and get back on track to end homelessness for good.”
In Telford the Housing Solutions can be called on 01952 381925 to report a rough sleeper.
