Watford’s MP has said he is “delighted” that a council will be given more than £1 million for new long-term homes to house rough sleepers and vulnerable people.
Dean Russell welcomed the news that Watford Borough Council will receive £1,650,750 from the Government, which will be used for local schemes that provide secure ‘move on’ style accommodation for people at risk of sleeping on the streets.
Three Rivers District Council will also receive funding of £513,000.
In total, projects across England will receive more than £150 million to deliver more than 3,300 such secure homes by the end of March 2021, providing long term accommodation to vulnerable people to keep them safe from coronavirus and rebuild their lives.
Mr Russell said: “I’d like to thank all those involved for everything they’ve done to get people off our streets and into secure, safe accommodation. Since being elected as the MP for Watford, one of my priorities has been lobbying Government for additional funding to tackle homelessness. I am delighted at these results.
“If we are to deliver on the promise we made in our manifesto to end rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament, then the people who have been helped need access to long-term housing that gives them the safety and security in order to rebuild their lives, which is exactly what the funding announced today will do.
“In particular I’d like to pay tribute to New Hope who work so hard to help support those living on our streets.”
The funding is part of the Government’s investment of £433 million to deliver 6,000 new homes for rough sleepers by the end of the current Parliament and builds on the ‘Everyone In’ campaign launched at the start of the pandemic, which has helped support over 29,000 vulnerable people.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Our Everyone In plan is widely considered the most effective action taken by any country in the world to protect those sleeping rough from the pandemic.
“And that work hasn’t stopped - 29,000 rough sleepers and other vulnerable people have been supported into safe accommodation since the start of COVID-19. The next step in our mission is to ensure they have a more settled home.
“Which is why we are providing over £150 million, as part of the biggest ever investment in homes for the homeless.”
https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/18832573.watford-council-receive-funding-help-rough-sleepers/
