Ben Howlett, the MP for Bath, has welcomed the announcement by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government that part of a £20 million Rough Sleeping Fund will go to help rough sleepers in Bath.
The fund will help new rough sleepers, or people at imminent risk of sleeping rough to get the rapid support they need to recover and move on from rough sleeping.
Further to a round table meeting hosted by Ben Howlett with Bath & North East Somerset Council, DHI, Julian House, Genesis Trust and others, a strategic bid was submitted to Government targeting key issues that required increased focus.
Ben met with the Minister for homelessness to discuss the needs of Bath rough sleepers earlier in the year and successfully lobbied him for additional funding.
Speaking after the announcement, Ben said: “I am delighted that the Government has realised that funds are desperately needed to help rough sleepers in Bath.
“This money will go some way in supporting some of the most vulnerable in society. Bath & North East Somerset Council now needs to continue to work with Julian House and other charities in Bath to identify where the targeted funds are needed and work to provide an innovative approach to tackling homelessness and rough sleeping.’
Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said: “One person without a home is one too many. That is why we have protected £315 million for local authority homelessness prevention funding, and increased funding for central programmes to reduce and prevent homelessness to £149 million over the next four years.”