Councils Secure Government Funding To Help Rough Sleepers

Dover District Council and Folkestone & Hythe District Council have secured funding totalling over £469,000 through the Government’s Rough Sleeping Initiative to continue to complement existing services to homeless rough sleepers within the districts.

This follows news that the councils were awarded more than £410,000 last year under the initiative. This funding has helped to recruit nine specialist workers managed by homeless charity Porchlight, including two specialist ‘Navigators’ who support vulnerable female rough sleepers and those with complex needs.

The additional funding will also pay for an out-of-hours outreach service run by Serveco, a long-standing partner of Kent councils, which will enable rough sleepers to be helped more quickly.

Cllr Derek Murphy, Cabinet Member for Housing at Dover District Council said: “We are very pleased to have received this additional funding, which will help councils and our partners continue the successful work already being undertaken. By helping rough sleepers, and dealing with the core issues that affect them, we are working to help people off the streets.”

Cllr Jenny Hollingsbee, Cabinet Member for Communities at Folkestone & Hythe District Council, said: “It’s absolutely essential to support rough sleepers, who are among the most vulnerable people in our community. This funding will help meet their complex needs by extending our ongoing partnership working with local agencies.”

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