New government funding to support rough sleepers in Fenland

The award from the Cold Weather Fund will enable winter shelter provisions to be extended at Wisbech’s Emergency Night Shelter, run by homeless charity The Ferry Project, until March 31.

The grant is in addition to £50,000 previously secured from the fund which provided additional accommodation for rough sleepers through the months of November to February.

The funding will allow continued emergency shelter for up to 20 people and support ongoing work to provide intensive engagement with individuals accommodated by the provision. This includes specialist support and finding alternative accommodation for individuals that will meet their needs wherever possible.

The Government launched the £10 million Cold Weather Fund in September to provide financial backing to local authorities through the winter, enabling them to keep people who are sleeping rough off the streets and to work with them to ensure they do not return to the streets once the cold weather has passed.

Cllr Samantha Hoy, Fenland District Council’s portfolio holder for housing, said: “Winter is a particularly dangerous time for rough sleepers but this funding will help the council and its partners to provide them with the help they need when they need it most.

“We are immensely proud of what has already been achieved in Fenland to help reduce and prevent homelessness but it is important that we continue to help rebuild lives and end rough sleeping once and for all.”

The additional funding follows on from the £340,000 that was secured in January from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of the Rough Sleeping Initiative grant.

If you or someone you know is at risk of homelessness, you can contact Fenland District Council on 01354 654321.

More information is available at: https://www.fenland.gov.uk/homelessness.