READING Borough Council has secured £2.8m to combat rough sleeping.
The funding is the result of a successful bid to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, which is allocating funds from the national Rough Sleeping Initiative.
The council will use the funding to supplement its support for those sleeping rough through services such as Housing First.
It will also contribute to an increase in expert assistance, such as tenancy sustainment support services, an interventions co-ordinator, and specialist support for those with specific needs.
The council is looking to extend its current pilot project which helps ex-offenders to find and keep rented accommodation, as well as emergency accommodation provisions.
The council has recently been shortlisted for the Housing and Best Social Housing categories at the Local Government Chronicle Awards and Municipal Journal Awards respectively during the summer for its work to combat rough sleeping.
This was a result of the initiative which saw 40 self-contained modular homes installed in the town centre to combat homelessness from July 2021.
Cllr Ellie Emberson, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Housing, said: “I’m delighted that Reading’s submission for funding was successful.
“We have already shown a serious commitment to tackling rough sleeping, and this award will help us continue the momentum to support those in need further.
“It is testimony to our proven track record that we’ve been entrusted with this funding, enabling us to deliver continued and enhanced protection and support for those sleeping rough.”
Housing First is an approach to providing housing and support which prioritises access to stable accommodation.
