Conservative Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Giles McNeill, has welcomed news that Lincolnshire will receive an additional £595,523 to tackle rough sleeping this year to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

The Conservatives have announced that councils will receive a share of an additional £112 million through the Rough Sleeping Initiative to help get people off the streets and in to safe and secure accommodation.

It builds on the Prime Minister’s drive to end homelessness and the announcement before Christmas of £260 million for local authorities to help people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes get back on their feet.

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:

“I am delighted that funding to tackle rough sleeping in Lincolnshire will increase by £595,523 this year. 

“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.”

Secretary of State for Housing, Local Government and Communities, Rt. Hon. Robert Jenrick MP, said:

“No-one should have to face a night on the street and we have a moral duty to support those who need help the most. It is encouraging to see more people getting the support they need, but there is always more to do.

“We are focusing relentlessly on this issue and our efforts have already led to the first nationwide fall in rough sleeping in a decade – and the areas funded by our Rough Sleeping Initiative have seen rough sleeping numbers fall around a third more than they would be without this vital programme. 

“But we need to go further. That is why we are providing this funding so vital work can continue as we set out to end rough sleeping once and for all.”