Durham County Council has bid for government funding to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
Next week, the council’s cabinet will hear details of a bid submitted to Homes England and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as part of the government’s Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP).
Announced in September 2022, SHAP has allocated £200m in funding for councils to provide accommodation and support for rough sleepers and young people who are at risk of rough sleeping.
SHAP aims to increase the supply of high-quality accommodation with accompanying support to address homelessness.
It is intended to help recovery where people need high levels of support, and to prevent young people (aged 18 to 25) who may be at risk of experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping in the future.
If successful, the council’s bid would secure three years of funding for specialist homeless service provision with an additional 32 new bed spaces, create around 20 new jobs, and bring socio-economic benefits.
It will fund individualised, tailored support and help people develop skills to manage and maintain a tenancy with the aim of progressing to live in mainstream housing.
Cllr James Rowlandson, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for resources, investment and assets, said: “Homelessness can devastate lives, affecting people’s health, relationships, and their ability to gain and sustain employment.
“In County Durham, we are committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness and supporting people to live well and lead independent lives.
“Funding from SHAP will align with our emerging Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and complement the work we are already doing to reduce rough sleeping with an ambition to end it for good.”
Cabinet will hear more details when it meets on Wednesday, November 15.