A total of 132 charities across England will receive a share of the Homeless Link/Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) COVID-19 Homelessness Response Fund, enabling them to continue to support people experiencing homelessness during coronavirus and beyond.
This includes providing beds for those who need it as well as the specialist physical and mental health help they need to recover from life on the streets.
The funding is part of a £750 million package of government support for UK charities who may have been impacted by the pandemic, £360 million of which is dedicated to offering a lifeline to charities working to end homelessness.
Successful bids include:
o Encompass Southwest – who support rough sleepers with some of the most complex needs in North Devon, as well as young people aged 14 to 21 who are at risk of rough sleeping or homelessness.
o Helping Hands Community Project in Warwick – who support people experiencing homelessness, including victims of domestic violence, by offering a range of essential services from hot meals to advice and support sessions. It also upskills people through volunteer placements in its charity shop and café.
o Stonewall Housing in East London – who work directly with LGBT+ homeless people and those at risk of homelessness.
o Young Women’s Housing Project in Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber – who provide safe supported accommodation and therapeutic support to young women aged 16-25 and their children, who have been affected by sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and peer/intimate partner abuse, and
o Coffee4Craig in Manchester – who provide vital support for rough sleepers and people in crisis. The Manchester drop-in is an evening and weekend service, offering hot meals, showers, medical support and more.
For further details of the scheme and for a list of all successful projects (scroll down to the foot of the page), visit the GOV.UK website.
