Thousands of people facing homelessness will receive urgent help this winter thanks to a new £84m Government funding package announced on World Homeless Day.
The funding will prioritise children and families in temporary accommodation, helping with essentials such as food, laundry, school travel and uniforms. It comes amid record levels of homelessness, with nearly 170,000 children currently living in temporary housing.
The investment includes £70m for rough sleeping prevention, £11m to support families in temporary accommodation, and £3m for drug and alcohol treatment services, alongside a £200,000 uplift for community-led homelessness initiatives.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed 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 £1bn to give homeless people the security of a roof over their heads and get back on track to end homelessness for good.'
Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, welcomed the support, adding: ‘We hope this announcement marks another step towards an ambitious homelessness strategy.’
