The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, has announced that Thanet is to receive £367,322 of government funding for a Rough Sleeping Initiative. The money has been allocated from a total fund of £30m that the Government has set aside to support those sleeping rough and those at risk in 83 local authorities with the highest need.

Over the last few months, a government team of experts have been working closely with local authorities to identify service gaps and create tailored packages to tackle rough sleeping in their area this year. Together they have co-produced bespoke plans to tackle rough sleeping based on local government and the third sector knowledge of what works.

The announcement represents a first significant step in the Government’s plans to reduce rough sleeping. It will be followed by a cross-Government strategy, published in July, which will set out how the Government intend to meet the manifesto commitment of halving rough sleeping by 2022 and eliminating it altogether by 2027.

Craig Mackinlay MP commented:

“Just one person without a roof over their head in Thanet is one too many, and it is vitally important that the most vulnerable people in society, including homeless people and rough sleepers, are helped to get their lives back on track.

“That’s why I welcome the over £367k of government funding for a Rough Sleeping Initiative in Thanet which will build upon the work we have already undertaken in order to meet the commitments we made at the last General Election.

“This is very much ‘work-in-progress’ and I look forward to the publication next month of the cross-Government strategy to eliminate rough sleeping in its entirety by 2027.”