Help for single homeless fund application

Funding of nearly £220,000 has been awarded to Plymouth City Council, West Devon Borough Council and South Hams District Council to boost work supporting single people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

£219,185 has been secured from the Government’s Single Homeless Fund. The money will be made available over two years and will help boost the work that is already taking place.

Single people at risk of becoming homeless are often particularly vulnerable, and some of this funding will specifically help individuals who are on the verge of being released from prison or being discharged from hospital and are at risk of becoming homeless.

Extra officers will be taken on to work with the voluntary sector, based across the three local authority areas, and will additionally be responsible for gathering evidence, and identifying and sharing good practice through the Devon and Cornwall Housing Options Partnership.

Plymouth City Council led the successful bid for the Government cash with West Devon Borough Councils and South Hams District Council.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Co-operatives, Housing and Community Safety at Plymouth City Council said: “This is fantastic news and means we can break the route into rough sleeping by improving co-ordination for single homeless clients across local authority boundaries.

“This new funding is really welcome and will be used to help continue our work to prevent those in most need from becoming homeless and being at risk of rough sleeping. It is often the most vulnerable people who need the most support to resolve their housing situation.”

Councillor John Tucker, Leader of South Hams District Council, said: “This funding is particularly welcome to help us all share good practice between the authorities and provide a better service. Homelessness is more in our thoughts at this time of year particularly as those in this situation are most vulnerable to the bad weather.”

Councillor Robert Sampson, Chairman of West Devon Borough Council’s Community Services Committee, said: “This is really good news for West Devon and will enable us to continue to help those people in our communities who sleep rough. I think it’s also extremely positive that our councils can all work so well together for a cause that is so important.”

Plymouth City Council has recently submitted its rough sleeping estimate to Communities and Local Government. This estimated 13 people sleeping rough in Plymouth on 18 November 2014. This is a slight rise from 2013 when nine people were estimated to be sleeping rough in the city.                                                                                                                          

The council worked with local agencies such as outreach workers, police, faith groups, voluntary sector organisations, mental health organisations and members of the community that have contact with rough sleepers on the streets and used their expertise in arriving at an estimate.