CLOSE to £400,000 is to go towards helping the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in Redditch in 2022-23.
The money, which includes £314,926 from the Government’s Homelessness Prevention Grant, is made up with an £66,008 underspend on equivalent grant in the last financial year.
The bulk of the cash – £75,246 – will go to the CCP Rough Sleeper Outreach Service funding staff posts across Bromsgrove and Redditch, while £55,600 will go to Redditch Nightstop to fund an outreach worker to support 21 to 35 year olds and prevent homelessness or work towards moves into suitable and sustainable accommodation and the separate Safe Accommodation and Support scheme.
A further £66,380 will be spent on temporary accommodation management while £26,500 will be given to St Basil’s Smallwood Almshouses for its work, plus £14,200 to help pay for accommodation for young people following a cut in county council funding.
The money has been welcomed by Council Leader Matt Dormer who said: “Preventing homelessness is something I passionately believe in.
“Whatever we can do. It is so important for helping with mental health and also providing people with the skills so they can earn their own money and put a roof over their heads.
Since 201 Worcestershire has received £1.7million in total as part of the Government’s plan to end rough sleeping by 2027.
Local MP Rachel Maclean added: “This new funding will directly support those constituents in Redditch that need it most.
“The Borough Council will be able to prevent homelessness before it occurs and put a roof over the heads of those who have lost their homes.”
