Brighton and Hove is to get the second-biggest injection of cash in the country under Andy Burnham’s scheme to end rough sleeping.
The city council is being given £1,350,803 this financial year – second only to Liverpool among English local authorities.
It does not yet know how it will spend the money, which is intended not just to get people off the streets in the short term but to build housing in the longer term.
The programme is also intended offer practical help with housing, health and other needs, helping people build a more stable future.
Councillor Gill Williams, Brighton & Hove City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “While it’s too early to go into detail on exactly how the additional funding will be used, it will help us build on the work already underway to meet the goals of our homelessness and rough sleeping strategy – focused on preventing homelessness in the first place and ensuring that sufficient accommodation and support are available for anyone at risk of homelessness.”
Mayoral areas, which cover far larger populations, are being given bigger figures, with more than £41 million given to Greater London and £6 million to Greater Manchester.
Research from Crisis suggests preventing 40,000 people from becoming homeless for a year could save taxpayers around £370 million.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has also announced he will host a first of its kind national summit in the autumn to bring together leaders from across society – from business, finance, charities, health, faith communities and more – to ask what role each of them can play in ending rough sleeping.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “No-one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station. But we’ve seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it.
“I won’t accept it. That’s why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping. And it’s why today we’re getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas.
“We did it in the pandemic. We can do it again. But it needs all of us. Government will put the money in. But I’m asking leaders in communities and sectors across society to play their part locally too.
“Let’s get people out the cold. And let’s bring back hope.”
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, who owns a second home in Hove, said: “When the Prime Minister pledged to end rough sleeping, we said we’d move urgently from words to action. Today we’re delivering on that promise.
“This funding will help thousands of people leave the streets behind, move into secure homes and get the support they need to rebuild their lives.
“Working alongside councils, mayors and charities, we’re backing local areas to tackle rough sleeping at its roots, giving people the security, dignity and opportunity they deserve, and restoring hope to those who have been let down for far too long.”
It would be absolutely delightful if she could donate one of her homes to this initiative?
Or am I being somewhat naive? Oh well one can live in hope.
We had two Jags Prescott, now two Gaffs* Rayner.
(*UK informal – someone’s house or home)
How about five homes/five mill Farage donating one of his?
As long as they’re kept well away from Rayner’s Hove flat, presumably? No doubt Bella can get her friends at Base One to sort a few futons out.