The funding forms part of the Government’s new Rough Sleeping Programme, which aims to provide rapid support, accommodation and specialist assistance to people sleeping rough or at immediate risk of rough sleeping, while also supporting longer-term solutions to homelessness.
Wirral is set to receive £498,824 investment which will enable the borough to build on existing services already in place, including homelessness prevention and assessment, Rough Sleeping Initiative outreach teams, emergency accommodation, supported housing pathways and integrated health support.
Wirral Council already delivers many of the core elements associated with the Government’s approach through its Housing Options Service and established partnership arrangements including:
- A dedicated Housing Options service undertaking homelessness assessments and triage.
- Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) funded outreach provision to identify, engage and support rough sleepers.
- Access to emergency and temporary accommodation.
- Supported housing pathways.
- A dedicated nurse practitioner linked to hostel accommodation.
- Established links into mental health, substance misuse and wider support services.
- Existing homelessness prevention and relief duties under the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
As a result, Wirral already provides a coordinated approach to rough sleeping prevention, engagement and support, with outreach workers actively engaging with rough sleepers and facilitating access to accommodation and support services.
While the principles of the programme align with current practice, the primary challenge for Wirral will be the availability of suitable accommodation and move-on opportunities for those in temporary accommodation and this funding will help address this.