Housing secretary James Brokenshire has announced that his department is making an immediate £30 million available to help rough sleepers off streets and into temporary accommodation.
Councils in England with the highest number of rough sleepers will receive a share of the cash, with 83 areas being covered by the available funding, according to Brokenshire.
The money is expected to provide an additional 1,750 additional bed spaces for rough sleepers and 531 dedicated homelessness workers, as well as helping to improve the co-ordination of services available to those who need help.
Councils will be supported by the government’s new Rough Sleeping Initiative Team consisting of experts from the sector with a proven track record of successfully helping rough sleepers and preventing those at risk from becoming homeless.
Brokenshire said: “No one should ever have to sleep rough. I am determined that more people living on the streets and those at risk this coming winter get the help they need now.
“That’s why I am making £30 million available that will help councils boost the immediate support they are able to offer. Whether this pays for more beds or more outreach workers this will make a real difference now.”