Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, has welcomed the announcement of an additional £3.5 million funding to help rough sleepers in Leicester and Leicestershire as part of the Government’s efforts to protect them during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The funding, which forms part of the Government’s ‘Everyone In’ initiative is widely considered the most effective action taken by any country in the world to protect those sleeping rough from the pandemic.
The funding will allow Government to work with local partners to secure more settled homes for rough sleepers to move into. Move-on accommodation will be available by the end of March 2021.
Dr Luke said “It’s right that the Government have made looking after the most vulnerable members of our community a priority during the pandemic, that absolutely includes the men and women sleeping rough, or at risk of sleeping rough, in our towns and cities.
“I’m pleased that Leicester and Leicestershire will see over £3.5 million funding to help those in need on their journey to securing to a permanent home.”
The announcement of Everyone In funding takes the overall amount the Government spending on rough sleeping and homelessness this year to over £700 million, this includes £112 million already allocated to councils this for the Rough Sleeping Initiative, to support the establishment of coordinated services for rough sleepers or those at risk of sleeping rough; and an additional £23 million which will be provided so that vulnerable individuals experiencing rough sleeping, including those currently in emergency accommodation as a response to COVID-19, can access the specialist help they need for substance dependency issues.