Preston City Council is due to have a council meeting this week (Thursday 15 April) and will discuss homelessness and rough sleeping in the city.

Two topics of the meeting will include the continuation of the Rough Sleeper initiative and homelessness prevention.

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The council has been awarded the new Homelessness Prevention Grant of £315,746 in 2021/2022 by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

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This will contribute towards the cost of tackling homelessness and the extra burdens the Homeless Reduction Act places on Councils.

As well as introducing interventions to assist the Housing Advice Team to alleviate the extra burdens the Homeless Reduction Act has placed on front line members of staff.

These initiatives will also enhance the support for those individuals with some of the most complex needs and families in Preston

The funding amount of £315,746 is an increase of £119k compared with the income received in 2020/21.

It was confirmed in December 202 that the Rough Sleeping Initiative funding would continue to run in 21/22 commencing its fourth year of funding.

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This will also be discussed further on Thursday’s cabinet meeting.

The council’s bid for the Rough Sleepers initiative is for up to £890,058 however they will not know how much they will receive until May/June 2021.

The Foxton Centre and Community Gateway Association will also benefit from the funding.

The budget will also go towards projects such as:

• Funding for the staffing and overhead costs of the 24/7 ‘Somewhere Safe to Stay’ which during Covid restrictions had to be moved from the shared accommodation at the Foxton Centre to empty student accommodation at The Box.
• Continuation funding for the Outreach Team and Support Staff.
• Continuation funding for Community Gateway Association to support the 40 one-bed flats they have provided.
• Continuation funding for the Rough Sleeper Co-ordinator, landlord incentive packages, and personalised budgets.

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