Extra government cash will extend scheme to house rough sleepers through coldest months of winter
A scheme which sees rough sleepers provided with emergency accommodation through the winter is set to be extended after Shropshire Council received extra funding from the Government.
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Shropshire Council has received an extra £38,000 in funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) which will see the authority working with homeless charity The Shrewsbury Ark to get rough sleepers off the streets during the coldest months.
Previously, emergency accommodation for rough sleepers has only been provided when temperatures dropped to below freezing, but a "ground-breaking" partnership between the local authority and the Shrewsbury Ark means ongoing winter provision is set to be provided every night until March 23.
The scheme will also see support staff from both organisations onsite each evening to provide advice and support.
In November, the Government announced an extra £20 million was being made available to local authorities via its "Rough Sleeping Winter Pressures" fund, aimed at easing "significant pressures" on local authorities to provide emergency accommodation during cold weather.
The Government said people who are homeless or rough sleeping are eight to 12 times more likely than the general population to die prematurely, particularly from chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Emily Bell, chair of The Shrewsbury Ark, said the scheme would give those currently experiencing homelessness in the county the chance to improve their circumstances.
“We are delighted to work with Shropshire Council’s Rough Sleeping Team on this unique and groundbreaking initiative which we hope will inspire councils and charities across the country to rethink how we help the increasing numbers of families and people living in vulnerable situations in our communities," she said.
“As an independent charity The Shrewsbury Ark can think about how we tackle homelessness in new and pioneering ways. Whatever has been done before hasn’t been enough and we want to make a difference in the way we support vulnerable people and ensure people are given every chance to turn their lives around.”
This week, the first residents moved into Shropshire Council's new temporary homelessness accommodation at a former university accommodation block at The Tannery in Shrewsbury, aimed at reducing a £4m bill for providing temporary accommodation for rough sleepers in Shropshire, while earlier this year the authority adopted a homelessness prevention strategy, described as a "huge step forward" for the area.
Councillor Dean Carroll, cabinet member for housing and assets, said he was "delighted" to receive extra funding for the scheme.
“We have recently experienced 10 days of below zero temperatures where the council working together with The Shrewsbury Ark have provided emergency accommodation for rough sleeper," he said..
“We will now work with partners to identify additional short-term measures to get rough sleepers off the streets this winter, as well as call out to landlords or those who can accommodate a lodger to come forward to provide longer term accommodation. The council can work with landlords to fund deposits, rent in advance and will provide ongoing support to any new rough sleeper accommodated.
“We remain committed to tackling all forms of homelessness and look forward to utilising this extra funding to make a significant impact in the community.”
Meanwhile, the council re-iterated calls for private landlords to come forward to provide longer term accommodation, having previously offered cash incentives in July last year.
