Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick launched the Next Steps Accommodation Programme this weekend (July 18), to finance Council efforts to help the most vulnerable in society into long-term accommodation.
Councils and their local partners can now apply for Government funding to cover costs of support and new tenancies for around 15,000 people.
The fund aims to ensure that those helped off the streets during the pandemic, have a more permanent and safer place to stay, to help break the cycle of homelessness.
Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing, Luke Hall MP said:
“There has been a colossal effort from our councils, charities and partners to provide a protective shield for the most vulnerable during this pandemic.
“Their efforts must not be in vain and today’s release of funding will make a huge difference by preventing thousands from returning to the streets with further support to allow them to rebuild their lives with a roof above their heads.”
It comes as part of the COVID-19 Rough Sleeping Taskforce, led by Dame Louise Casey, which also offers expert advisors to help local partners in their efforts.
The funding is broken into two pots; £105m to support those who have been given emergency accommodation, as part of the Everyone In programme and £161m to deliver 3,300 units of longer-term accommodation.
The deadline to bid for this funding is August 20 2020 and organisations must be able to clearly demonstrate in their proposal how the funding will be used.
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