An established countywide initiative that aims to tackle rough sleeping has received an additional financial boost from the government.
More than £400,000 has been awarded to local councils to continue to support rough sleepers and those at risk of rough sleeping across Cumbria.
Carlisle City Council submitted a partnership bid as the lead local authority for Cumbria. The successful funding bid to the Department for Communities and Local Government has resulted in £416,340 being awarded in 2020/21.
Partners within the Cumbrian bid are Carlisle City Council; Allerdale Borough Council; South Lakeland District Council; Copeland Borough Council; Eden District Council and Barrow Borough Council.
The Cumbrian local authorities will use the funding to increase housing options/pathways and deliver targeted support to those people identified as rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping, whom are not owed any statutory duty under the Homeless Reduction Act 2017. The funding will be used across Cumbria to fund:
- 9.5 full time equivalent members of staff. They will support 76 Supported Lettings placements and tenancies (in all districts except Barrow).
- One full time member of staff who will work in Barrow to support individuals with complex needs in 11 units.
- One full time member of staff who will support 16 tenancies via a local lettings agency (specifically across Eden and South Lakeland).
- Two full time members of staff. The Rough Sleeping Co-ordinators will work across Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland).
Cllr Paul Nedved, Carlisle City Council portfolio holder for Economy, Enterprise and Housing, said: “We welcome the countywide funding boost for rough sleeping initiatives which will assist Cumbrian councils to target support for vulnerable and homeless people. The funding will also provide continuity of funding and will increase housing options for those people in need.”
Funding for the rough sleeping initiative also received funding support in 2019:
- £311,640 (countywide) was awarded from the Rapid Rehousing Pathway fund from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to fund supported lettings and local lettings agencies;
- £80,000 was awarded from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to fund rough sleeping coordinator roles; and forms part of the commitment to tackle and end rough sleeping as outlined within the government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy; and
- £36,000 was committed from the district authorities.
