MAYOR of the West of England and the region's council leaders have welcomed the funding announcement from the Prime Minister to help tackle rough sleeping and ensure everyone has a route off the streets by Christmas.

The announcement of the national drive to end rough sleeping is being backed by £442 million in increased funding.

New accommodation and support will be rolled out across England this winter, learning from approaches put in place during the pandemic.

In addition, the Prime Minister has announced he will host a first of its kind national summit in the Autumn to bring together leaders from across society to ask what role each of them can play in ending rough sleeping.

Working alongside councils, Mayors will play a leading role in driving local action, helping to ensure support is targeted where it is needed most.

The West of England has been allocated a total £12.3 million in additional resource from the government, paid annually over the next three years. Work is now underway to determine how this funding can be used most effectively across the region.

This year, just under £3m will be directly distributed to the region’s local councils which are responsible for their areas’ homelessness provision.

In the longer term, the government has also set out plans for mayors to work alongside councils, to help shape and deliver local solutions that prevent rough sleeping and support people into stable accommodation.

Mayor Helen Godwin said: “Rough sleeping is devastating at any time of year, but the winter months can be particularly challenging. I'm pleased that this new funding will help provide a safe, warm place for people who need it most.

“Everyone deserves somewhere safe to sleep and the support they need to move forward with their lives. This funding will help more people get the stability they need, not just to get off the streets, but to start rebuilding their future.

“Together with our local councils, we have a real opportunity to make a difference now, while working together across the region to develop the longer-term solutions needed to end rough sleeping for good.”

Leader of B&NES, Cllr Kevin Guy, said: “We welcome this additional funding, which will help us provide vital support for people who are sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness during the winter months.

"Working with charities, housing providers and community organisations, councils play a key role in helping people access accommodation and the support they need. This funding will strengthen those efforts and help more people find a route away from rough sleeping.

“While the additional funding is an important step in addressing homelessness, it is only one part of our wider efforts to support people into secure accommodation. Increasing the supply of affordable homes across the region will also be essential if we are to tackle the housing crisis and prevent more people from becoming homeless in the future.

“We look forward to working with the Mayor and our partners to ensure this support reaches those who need it most.”