Preston City Council is set to receive funding to help people sleeping rough be placed in safe accommodation and get vaccinated.

Providing access to self-contained accommodation for people sleeping rough has been recognised during the course of the pandemic as one of the most immediate ways to prevent transmission of Covid-19.

In addition to the funding already provided through the Rough Sleeping Initiative, the Government has announced a £25 million funding package to support all local authorities across England to find appropriate accommodation, and to use this as a way of boosting vaccination rates across this vulnerable population.

In Preston, funding of £102,466 will allow more flexibility to make offers of safe and appropriate accommodation to people who are rough sleeping.

This will include people who may have previously been offered accommodation but rejected it or left accommodation, and individuals new to rough sleeping who require help to move on.

There will be an emphasis on assisting those who are the most vulnerable, particularly clinically vulnerable.

Read more: Community Vaccine Champions to support Preston people most at risk from Covid-19

In addition the Government is providing a £3.2 million vaccination incentivisation package.

Funding worth £13,256 is set to be used in Preston to work with partners in the NHS to ensure everyone in this cohort gets vaccinated.

These additional funds can be used to support non-UK nationals with restricted eligibility during these exceptional times.

Read more: At home vaccination service opened for those shielding and vulnerable in Preston and Lancashire

Preston charity The Foxton Centre supports street sleepers who find themselves at the margins of society.

Chief Executive Officer Jeff Marsh said: “The Foxton Centre welcomes any efforts to keep people safe during this Covid emergency.

“People may be aware that homeless people have an average age at death of 47, which is much lower than the rest of us can expect.

“Many have underlying health problems that can make them more vulnerable to infections like Covid, so this help could be vital.”

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