Additional funding to help rough sleepers in Rother this winter has been welcomed by council leaders.

Rother District Council has been allocated almost £26,500 to support people faced with sleeping rough in extreme weather over the coming months.

The Winter Pressure 2024/25 Government funding is part of a total of £10 million pounds for councils across London and 115 other local authorities up and down the country.

Councillor Ruairi McCourt, lead member for Housing at Rother District Council, said: “We very much welcome the extra Government funding to support the homeless and rough sleepers in the district this winter.

“Of course, we would have liked a larger allocation from the central pot – but this extra cash is a step in the right direction.

“It is recognition of the huge pressures we face in providing emergency accommodation and support for some of the most vulnerable people who may otherwise face sleeping on the street.

“We’ll continue to encourage the Government to increase funding for Rother and other councils as we face unprecedented financial pressures from the homeless crisis.”

The winter period is a particular high-risk time for people sleeping rough due to the increased risks of ill health. Rough sleepers and the homeless are eight to twelve times more likely to die prematurely, particularly from chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. 

The aim of the funding is to complement the Rough Sleeping Initiative 2022-25 in supporting local authorities to create additional off the street capacity for people sleeping rough in winter.

This includes providing support to veterans, care leavers and victims of domestic abuse at risk of, or currently experiencing rough sleeping, as well as to people who have slept rough long-term.

More information about the support for rough sleepers in Rother during the winter, can be found on our housing pages.

Ends.

Published: 8th November 2024