The Government has committed to ending rough sleeping. To this end, the Government has today announced the allocation of £203 million to 281 local authorities across England.
The funding, which comes under the Government’s Rough Sleeper Initiative (RSI), represents an 81% increase in spending from last year’s scheme and is part of the £750 million the Government will be spending overall this financial year on homelessness and rough sleeping.
The RSI was initially launched in 2018 with the goal of reducing the levels of rough sleeping by collaborating with local authorities. The programme has been a success, with a 2018 impact evaluation finding a 32% reduction in rough sleeping in areas which have received RSI funding compared to those which had not.
Wiltshire Council has been allocated a total of £547,825 RSI funding, an increase on last year’s £300,000. The money also builds on the £619,000 Wiltshire Council received in November under the ‘Move On’ programme.
Andrew said:
“I don’t think it’s at all acceptable for people to sleep rough. So I welcome this funding boost and am pleased the Government intends to build on the past successes of the RSI and the work done to support 37,000 rough sleepers since the beginning of the pandemic.
“Money alone won’t eliminate a complex issue. Those still rough sleeping for whatever reason often need a multi-agency approach to get them properly and sustainably accommodated”