Success of grant bid results in additional support for rough sleepers
Telford & Wrekin Council has been successful in additional funding from the Rough Sleeping Initiative Fund to help provide support for rough sleepers in the borough. The additional £79,132 announced today will help to assist partners to provide support to those who sleep rough and to access emergency accommodation.
The funding will be divided between STAY Telford and Maninplace.
Maninplace currently provide a night shelter which continues to be full on a regular basis. The challenge faced is the need for a second night shelter and additional staff to help support those with more complex needs.
The council’s additional funding will help towards staffing this second night shelter for rough sleepers. The shelter can be used on an as needed basis if they would otherwise be sleeping rough.
STAY Telford provides an outreach service which provides the first point to call for vulnerable rough sleepers. The homeless outreach co-ordinator works outside office hours and assesses the individual needs of rough sleepers and addresses
In addition, KiP@Maninplace also delivers essential services in the borough to support the homeless, particularly rough sleepers, through its Walk In Accommodation Hub in Wellington.
The council also provide advice to more than 3,000 people throughout the year and a specialist team provide in-depth support to around 150 clients a year who are at risk of being homeless.
Advice includes producing a personalised housing plan detailing actions to take to help prevent or relieve homelessness. This can be anything from signposting for budgeting advice, advice on support agencies and organisations, support with deposits, signposting to letting agents and social housing providers.
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Enforcement, said: “Working with our partners to reduce issues surrounding homelessness in the borough is extremely important. This additional funding will help Maninplace provide staffing for a second night shelter service, which is essential to rough sleepers at a time they are most vulnerable.
“We have seen an increase already of those single homeless clients contacting us for additional help and assistance and the second night shelter will enable us to help more clients rapidly.”
