Wirral is to receive more than £1.5m in additional funding to help vulnerable residents at risk of becoming homeless, or who are already sleeping rough.
The cash, announced on Wednesday, includes a grant for Wirral Council worth £594,852 for use over the next 12 months.
Councillor Jenny Johnson, Chair of Wirral’s Audit & Risk Management Committee and Parliamentary Candidate for Wirral West, said:
“On Monday, Wirral Council was able to set a balanced budget, due in part to the increased support from the Government.
“I am pleased that we have now been given further, additional cash to support the specific needs of some of our most vulnerable residents. As a resident of Wirral, I want to see this cash used to get people off the streets and into safe, long-term accommodation.
“While there are many reasons why people become homeless – for example domestic abuse or family breakdown – it is vital that the council is able to respond quickly and effectively.
“This extra cash means that we will be able to do more over the coming months to support our residents.”
Local housing charity, Forum Housing Association, will be given £962,456 through the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme.
The Programme aims to increase the supply of high-quality accommodation with accompanying support for people with the longest histories of rough sleeping or the most complex needs, and vulnerable young people (aged 18-25) who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness or rough sleeping.
Councillor Jeff Green, Leader of Wirral’s Conservative Councillors, added:
“Thankfully, we are seeing greater recognition by Government of the ability of voluntary, community and faith organisations to get lasting results with the often complex issues of homelessness and rough sleeping.
“Charities and associations, like Forum, are better placed to not only provide the most appropriate accommodation but to also make sure that additional one-to-one support is included to help deal with the cause.”
“And, by acting more quickly to prevent young people being made homeless, we can prevent issues of anti social behaviour, crime and addiction later in their lives.
The cash announced this week follows legal requirements on councils to provide specific support and to act sooner:
- The landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021 means Wirral Council now has a legal duty to provide accommodation-based support to victims of domestic abuse and their children in safe accommodation.
- This followed the Homelessness Reduction Act in 2017 which requires councils to intervene at earlier stages to prevent homelessness in their areas.
- And, in July 2023, Operation Fortitude was launched to help veterans sleeping rough or at risk of being made homeless with specialist support while veterans have also now been given greater priority on local housing waiting lists across the country.
Wirral residents can alert local council outreach workers if they see someone sleeping rough via the StreetLink service at https://thestreetlink.org.uk/
Veterans, or those working with veterans, can access Op FORTITUDE via 0800 952 0774 or through a secure web portal at www.riv.org.uk/opfortitude
