Lewes MP welcomes funding to prevent people at risk of homelessness ending up on streets

Lewes MP Maria Caulfield has welcomed news that Lewes and Wealden district councils are to receive £964,300 to prevent people at risk of homelessness ending up on the streets.
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The funding is part of the Next Steps Accommodation programme, which aims to build on the success of the Government’s efforts to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers during the pandemic.

It is a joint bid by Hasting Borough Council on behalf of Eastbourne Borough Council, Lewes, Rother and Wealden District Councils, all of whom will share the funding.

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Mrs Caulfield said: “Throughout the pandemic, we successfully got thousands of rough sleepers off the streets and into emergency accommodation.

Maria Caulfield, MP for LewesMaria Caulfield, MP for Lewes
Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes

“I am delighted that Lewes and Wealden Councils are now set to receive funding from the Government’s Next Steps Accommodation Programme, which will help us to build on this progress to ensure as few people as possible return to the streets.

“This £964,300 will make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our community, helping them to rebuild their lives, away from the streets in safer accommodation.”

The Next Steps Accommodation Programme has seen emergency accommodation secured for more than 15,000 people either sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness.

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It is also funding long-term accommodation for rough sleepers, with the first 3,300 units set to be delivered by the end of the year, backed by £161 million of investment.

A total of 6,000 of these ‘move on’ style accommodation units will be built over the course of the parliament, providing secure homes for rough sleepers, and helping deliver the Government’s ambition of ending rough sleeping for good by 2024.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “The incredible national effort to support rough sleepers during the pandemic has protected many lives and is widely regarded as one of the most successful programmes of its kind in the world. I’m hugely grateful to all those involved.

“This funding will ensure that vulnerable people and rough sleepers continue to have safe accommodation and the care and support they need, to ensure as few as possible return to the streets.”

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