James, has welcomed a Government announcement that will see an extra £425,000 spent on a targeted Rough Sleeping Initiative in Southend.
The funding is a part of the new £30 million targeted Rough Sleeping Initiative announced by James Brokenshire MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The initiative will help fund more outreach workers to engage with people on the streets, specialist mental health and substance misuse workers, and dedicated co-ordinators to drive efforts to reduce rough sleeping in Southend. The funding will also fund additional new bed spaces for both emergency and settled accommodation.
James said,
“We are fortunate in Southend to have some of the country’s best charities supporting homelessness such as HARP, Street Pastors and One Love Soup Kitchen to name a few. However, there is still work that needs to be done to support the most vulnerable in our society.
Which is why I am delighted to welcome the additional £425,000 from the Government to support a bespoke Rough Sleepers Initiative in Southend. It is my hope that this along with other Government initiatives will see a reduction in the number of rough sleepers on our streets.”
The Rough Sleepers Imitative will build upon the work the Government has already carried out which include the homelessness reduction Act, given Council’s more authority to act sooner on homelessness, the internationally recognised Housing First pilot, and the additional £1.2 billion of investment into homelessness prevention.
Cllr Tony Cox, Portfolio holder for Housing and Homelessness at Southend Borough Council said,
“It is excellent news that we are receiving this funding from the Government to help eradicate homelessness in our town which I know has been a concern for residents for a long time. I am sure that this additional funding will help us reach the government target to eradicate homelessness entirely by 2027.”