THE Redditch MP has welcomed a further £105 million to support councils in ensuring people in emergency accommodation do not return to the streets.

In March, the Government asked councils to place all rough sleepers in emergency accommodation.

As a result, there are nearly 15,000 people accommodated in emergency accommodation, including those who have come directly from the streets, people previously housed in shared night shelters and people who have become vulnerable to homelessness and rough sleeping during the pandemic.

This additional funding will be used to support these rough sleepers and those at risk of homelessness into tenancies of their own, including through help with deposits for accommodation, and securing thousands of alternative rooms already available and ready for use, such as student accommodation.

This new funding takes the total amount provided this year by Government to support rough sleepers and those on the brink of becoming homeless to over half a billion pounds.

A further £16 million is also being provided so that vulnerable people currently in emergency accommodation can access they specialist help they need for substance misuse issues, in order to rebuild their lives and move towards work and education.

Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “Redditch Borough Council has done an outstanding job in getting rough sleepers of the streets and into emergency accommodation during this pandemic. Their hard-work & dedication has ensured all rough sleepers in Redditch are housed.

“This new funding announced by the Government will be used to support the rough sleepers in Redditch who have been placed in emergency accommodation. This will include helping them to secure tenancies of their own, including through help with deposits for accommodation, and securing thousands of alternative rooms already available and ready for use.

“This funding will ensure we continue to make huge strides in this Government’s determination to end rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament.”