· Darren Paffey, MP for Southampton Itchen, and Satvir Kaur, MP for Southampton Test, welcome package of new funding to coincide with World Homeless Day (10 October)
· Funding builds on Labour government’s £1 billion investment this year to end homelessness and rough sleeping
Two of Southampton’s MPs have welcomed news that the city will benefit from a new £660,000 cash injection from the Government to help support local people facing homelessness.
Children and families in temporary accommodation will be prioritised – with the funding to go towards helping families to cover the essentials like food, school travel and laundry.
The new funding unlocked by the Labour government, and which is being awarded to Southampton City Council, has been announced to coincide with World Homeless Day (10 October). It comes on top of the Labour government’s almost £1 billion investment to tackle homelessness this year and includes the largest ever investment in prevention services, helping councils intervene early and stop homelessness before it happens.
The government has said that it will be up to local authorities to determine how to use the funding to most effectively support vulnerable individuals in their areas. This could include initiatives such as funding specialist physical and mental health support workers, providing greater support to families in Temporary Accommodation with essentials such as food and travel, and boosting drug and alcohol treatment services.
Darren Paffey, MP for Southampton Itchen, said:
“I recently spent time with some of the fantastic local organisations supporting homeless people in the city. They do some really fantastic and transformative work – but it’s clear that they can only do so much and that more support and resources are needed to tackle this crisis and help people take their first steps out of homelessness. With winter approaching,
I’m really pleased to see the government taking action and providing the extra cash that’s needed to tackle the moral stain of homelessness and rough sleeping.”
Satvir Kaur, MP for Southampton Test, said:
“It is only right that we are taking action to tackle homelessness, and I am so pleased to see this new funding from government. With record numbers of people living without a secure home, we need to see real change. Our Southampton charities and organisations that support homeless people do incredible work, from Two Saints to the Society of Saint James, but we need to do more to help put an end to homelessness and rough sleeping. Housing is not only a basic human right, but I strongly believe that everyone deserves a safe place to sleep and a roof over their head.”
ENDS
Further background information:
· This funding announcement comes as record levels of households are in temporary accommodation across the country, including nearly 170,000 children. After 14 years of Conservative government, levels of rough sleeping have more than doubled since 2010.
· The funding for Southampton is part of the government’s England-wide funding package of £84m to help prevent homelessness and support families this winter.
Additional quote from homelessness charity Crisis
Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:
“This funding is very welcome, especially as winter approaches and with homelessness rising. More people are likely to face the prospect of sleeping on cold streets and need support urgently. More parents will be working out how to help their children do homework from cramped and draughty temporary accommodation.
“We know that targeted support can make a big difference and help people take their first steps out of homelessness.”