Eastbourne to receive government cash boost to help rough sleepers

A sum of £810,000 has been given to Eastbourne and Hastings councils as part of the government’s Rough Sleeper Strategy to provide local help for those living on the streets.

The strategy, which is said to use dedicated support teams and secure additional bed spaces, aims to end rough sleeping by 2027 and represents an initial £34 million of funding across 83 areas in England.

This comes after a comprehensive report from Eastbourne Citizens Advice called for a hostel in the town.

Call for hostel for homeless people in Eastbourne

The funding news has been welcomed by the Eastbourne Conservative Group.

Its leader Tony Freebody said, “This is very welcome support from the Conservative government that demonstrates real commitment to ending rough sleeping in Eastbourne within a decade.

“We all need to support the most vulnerable people in our society and the extra funding will help to assist people into services and accommodation.

“This is a complex issue and there is no simple solution, but our councils now have greater resources and can work with other agencies such as health services to provide a scaffold of support for people who need it.”

Homelessness in Eastbourne quadruples in two years

While leader of the Conservatives at Hastings Borough Council Rob Lee said, “The government has fully recognised that more must be done to tackle this problem across the country and I’m pleased Hastings will receive this money.

“The reasons behind rough sleeping are wide ranging and complex and support is certainly needed to help those who find themselves in this predicament because of problems such as family breakdown, mental health issues, drug use or loss of employment.”