READING Borough Council has seen a boost of more than £120,000 to its fund earmarked for tackling rough sleeping in the borough.
Reading was one of 115 local councils to benefit from a slice of an overall £10m national fund which recognises the pressures local authorities are under to increase emergency accommodation and safeguard vulnerable people at risk from sleeping rough during the winter.
The council has announced it has directed the funds to a number of initiatives, including Severe Weather Emergency Protocol housing, the Bed for a Night initiative, and the creation of warm spaces in January.
Cllr Rob White, leader of the Green Party in Reading, said: “It is great that the Labour-run council has got this grant because rough sleeping in Reading is at an all-time high as measured by the council’s annual headcount of people sleeping rough.
“It is a drop in the ocean of what is needed, though– then Covid hit the government supported councils with housing the majority of people sleeping rough for a short time and this is the sort of support that is needed rather than a small grant here and a small grant there.”
Residents are also being urged by the Council to play a role in looking after the most vulnerable.
Those who have seen someone bedded down that they are worried about can contact the local Rough Sleeping Outreach Service via: thestreetlink.org.uk
