Homelessness charity on 'funding cliff edge'
Daniel Holland
BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service
Daniel Holland
BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC
Changing Lives warns its rough sleeper outreach programme is at risk
A homelessness charity fears it could have to scrap some services because of a lack of money.
Changing Lives said it was on a "perilous funding cliff edge" that could stop it being able to run services for rough sleepers in Northumberland and North Tyneside.
Changing Lives said it needed the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to extend the Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) fund, which is due to run out next March.
The MHCLG has indicated decisions on the fund's future would be made as part of the government's upcoming spending review.
'Moral obligation'
The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports that North East councils received just over £10m of RSI money to use between 2022 and 2025, some of which is passed on to Changing Lives via grants.
Jacquiline Cox, from the charity, said: "Our Rough Sleeper Outreach services [across North Tyneside and Northumberland] are solely reliant on RSI funding.
"These services provide essential, life-saving support to some of the most vulnerable and disenfranchised people in our community.
"Without this funding, those who are experiencing rough sleeping will have even fewer places to turn.
"Continuing to invest in homelessness services is not just a financial necessity but a moral obligation."
An MHCLG spokesperson said: “Far too many people are experiencing homelessness, and we want to make it easier for them to find a secure home.
“The government is taking urgent action by working with local leaders on a long-term strategy, and will prevent homelessness before it occurs by banning Section 21 evictions and delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.”
Changing Lives warns its rough sleeper outreach programme is at risk
A homelessness charity fears it could have to scrap some services because of a lack of money.
Changing Lives said it was on a "perilous funding cliff edge" that could stop it being able to run services for rough sleepers in Northumberland and North Tyneside.
Changing Lives said it needed the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to extend the Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) fund, which is due to run out next March.
The MHCLG has indicated decisions on the fund's future would be made as part of the government's upcoming spending review.
'Moral obligation'
The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports that North East councils received just over £10m of RSI money to use between 2022 and 2025, some of which is passed on to Changing Lives via grants.
Jacquiline Cox, from the charity, said: "Our Rough Sleeper Outreach services [across North Tyneside and Northumberland] are solely reliant on RSI funding.
"These services provide essential, life-saving support to some of the most vulnerable and disenfranchised people in our community.
"Without this funding, those who are experiencing rough sleeping will have even fewer places to turn.
"Continuing to invest in homelessness services is not just a financial necessity but a moral obligation."
An MHCLG spokesperson said: “Far too many people are experiencing homelessness, and we want to make it easier for them to find a secure home.
“The government is taking urgent action by working with local leaders on a long-term strategy, and will prevent homelessness before it occurs by banning Section 21 evictions and delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.”
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