I agree that homelessness is an issue that we must do all we
can to tackle.
I recently welcomed confirmation that Cornwall will receive
£437,489, part of a targeted £30m Rough Sleeping Initiative fund to support
those sleeping rough and those at risk in 83 local authorities with the highest
need.
I am pleased that the Government has released this further
funding to Cornwall Council to help support those sleeping rough.
This represents a first significant step in the Government’s
plans to reduce rough sleeping and will be followed by a cross-Government
strategy, published in July, which will set out how it intends to meet our
manifesto commitment of halving rough sleeping by 2022 and eliminating it
altogether by 2027.
This funding nationally will provide for over 500 new staff
focused on rough sleeping. This will include more outreach workers to engage
with people on the streets, specialist mental health and substance misuse
workers and dedicated co-ordinators to drive efforts to reduce rough sleeping
in their areas. It will also provide over 1700 new bed-spaces nationally
including both emergency and settled accommodation.
I look forward to seeing the detail of what Cornwall Council
proposes to do with its funding, and look forward to working with them to
ensure that it is used to provide the best outcome for the people that need it,
the communities they are part of and is good value for the tax payer.
I hope this provides a reassurance that this is an issue I
care deeply about and will continue to do all I can locally and in Westminster,
to resolve.
