Warrington is set to receive over £1.2million from the Government’s Homelessness Prevention Grant over the next two years, as part of a wider £2billion support package to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping across the UK. The funding has been welcomed by Warrington South MP Andy Carter, who praised the ‘vital’ additional support for local homelessness prevention services in the town.
The funding allocation announced by the Government means Warrington will receive £590,223 over the course of 2023/24 and £619,499 in 2024/25. It comes as part of a wider £2billion support package to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next 2 years, and will enable the Borough Council to provide vital support for people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home.
The Homelessness Prevention Grant, which is ring-fenced, supports local authorities in targeting support towards those who are most in need, including vulnerable families and people at risk of rough sleeping. The money will be used to deliver their homelessness and rough sleeping strategies. This can include offering financial support for people to find a new home, providing temporary accommodation, or mediating with landlords to prevent evictions.
Commenting on the announcement, Andy Carter MP said: "I’m very pleased to see Warrington receiving over £1.2million of Government funding over the course of the next two years for homelessness prevention. Too often I hear from families late in the day who’ve fallen behind with rent payments and face eviction. This funding will enable the Borough Council to provide vital support for families with children who are at risk of losing their home and, crucially, to help those currently in need.
"The funding also supports our commitments made in the Homelessness Reduction Act to ensure that no family is left at risk of losing their home and will build on the significant reduction in rough sleeping we’ve already seen throughout the UK over the past five years."
Since implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act in 2018, over 500,000 households across the country have had their homelessness successfully prevented or relieved. There has also been a sustained decrease in rough sleeping on a single night – with rough sleeping levels 49% lower in 2021 than the peak in 2017, according to the official snapshot.
