LEICESTER has obtained more than £1.7m of Government funding to provide additional accommodation and support for rough sleepers in the city.
It will pay for schemes designed for people with long histories of sleeping rough, who have complex needs due to the trauma they have experienced.
Leicester City Council has worked in partnership with Action Homeless and emh group to secure the funding, which comes from the Government’s Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP).
Local charity Action Homeless was awarded more than £1.5m for its scheme to redevelop and manage 14 bedsits in a property it owns in Stoneygate. The scheme will help people with a long history of rough sleeping who face other challenges - such as mental health issues or substance misuse - and who may be excluded from other local homeless services. It will come with high-level support available 24 hours a day.
Mark Grant from Action Homeless said: “The funding will enable us to create bespoke accommodation that meets the needs of some of the most vulnerable people in Leicester. It will allow us to provide them with personalised support to break their cycle of homelessness. We are grateful for the support of Leicester City Council in securing this grant.”
Registered social housing provider – emh group - will use the funding it has secured of £240,000 to redevelop four self-contained flats it owns in the Highfields area. These will be aimed at people with medium to high-level needs who can’t manage in traditional temporary accommodation with shared facilities.
Chan Kataria, Group Chief Executive at emh said: “We’re delighted to have worked in partnership with Leicester City Council and Action Homeless to secure this funding. It will allow us to continue the vital work of providing homes and support to vulnerable people with long histories of rough sleeping. We’re looking forward to continuing this partnership to make a positive difference to those living in our communities.”
Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, deputy city mayor for housing said: “Council housing staff have worked closely with these partners to help them develop their schemes and ensure Leicester is able to benefit from the additional Government funding.
“There is a huge and growing need for supported accommodation of this kind, and very little funding available to provide it, so it’s vital we continue to work together to obtain additional funding when we can.”
The schemes are expected to be completed by March 2025.
Photo caption: The funding will pay for the refurbishment of bedsits in Stoneygate, Leicester to meet the needs of long-term rough sleepers.