Further boost to help rough sleepers

A Government funding award of nearly £146,000 will ensure that work to tackle homelessness across Derbyshire and the Staffordshire Moorlands will continue until 31st March next year.

A meeting of Erewash Borough Council’s Executive next week (8 September) is expected to confirm that the funding award by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is used to support the continuation of the rough sleeper initiative.

Erewash was the lead authority in bidding for government funding last year on behalf of the seven district councils in Derbyshire and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, which is aligned with High Peak Borough Council through a strategic alliance.

Confirmation that a further grant has been agreed means two Rough Sleep Co-ordinators can remain in post and a contract with the P3 charity can continue until the end of March.

The initiative aims to gather information on rough sleepers, review the existing support services and find long term solutions to end homelessness.

Its work has been particularly crucial in response to the covid-19 pandemic when the Government asked all councils to place people into temporary accommodation who were homeless or sleeping rough.

Councillor Val Clare, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Community Engagement, said: “We’re obviously proud to be the lead authority in achieving this funding for what is an important initiative to end homelessness in Erewash and across this partnership.

“The coronavirus crisis has been particularly challenging but the swift work by our support workers in Erewash has been particularly impressive.  Work is now underway with all our partners, voluntary groups and charities to find solutions to ensure those rough sleepers who have been helped do not return to the streets.”