I know from my time as Housing Minister how important it is to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. So I welcome the government providing Elmbridge with substantial new funding to address the issue.
Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) will receive £180,100 from the government’s Rough Sleeping Initiative in 2020/21 – an increase of 80% on the £100,000 the council received in 2019/20. Last year analysis of the initiative showed that, across the country, areas which received this funding had 32% fewer rough sleepers than they would otherwise have had.
EBC is planning to use this funding to maintain Elmbridge Rentstart’s daytime hub for those who are homeless, as well as its rough sleeper outreach service.
Elmbridge will also receive £365,255 from the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant in 2020/21 – the same amount as last year – and £72,121 from the Homelessness Reduction Grant. This grant, which helps councils to carry out new duties under the pioneering Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, is an increase of almost 200% on the £24,772 that Elmbridge received in 2019/20.
Finally, cold weather at this time of year can present particular challenges, so the government provides dedicated funding to support rough sleepers through winter. Elmbridge received £14,000 from this Cold Weather Fund last winter, and this winter is able to receive up to £15,000.
Together, this funding can help to make real progress in tackling homelessness in Elmbridge.