West Lindsey is one of four local authorities to benefit from a share of £600,000 government funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
In the latest round of Rough Sleeping Initiative Funding, West Lindsey District Council will receive a share of the funding split between South Holland, South Kesteven, North Kesteven and West Lindsey District Councils.
The aim of the funding, administered by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government is to help reduce the number of rough sleepers by:
- · Increasing prevention activity for those at risk
- · Reducing the number of ‘repeat’ rough sleepers
- · Improving physical and mental wellbeing
- · Providing greater levels of support in settled accommodation.
Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee, Cllr Owen Bierley said:
“We are delighted to see West Lindsey, along with other Lincolnshire authorities, receive this funding. There is a genuine partnership approach within Lincolnshire to tackling and preventing homelessness. There is a real opportunity to make an impact and by working co-operatively across the county to can help some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Everyone has the right to a safe and secure home and that has to be our goal.”
The Rough Sleeping Initiative has reduced the number of vulnerable people sleeping rough in the areas it has been operating by 32 per cent since its introduction in 2018 and is a central pillar of the government’s strategy to end rough sleeping completely by 2024. Commenting, Cllr. Giles McNeill said:
“This Conservative government has shown it is absolutely determined to end rough sleeping, and I was especially pleased to see the government bring forward its target of achieving this from 2027 to 2024 at the last election.
“There is still a lot more we can do, and I’ll be working with the council and local organisations to ensure the additional funds are spent locally in the most effective way, so that no one in our area has to sleep out in the cold this winter.”
