Richard has welcomed the news that Bedford Borough Council is to receive £864,484 and Central Bedfordshire Council £667,339 of additional government support as part of £50million funding to local authorities to prevent vulnerable people becoming homeless this winter.
Councils will have the flexibility to target the additional financial support at those who need it most. This may include helping households at risk of eviction pay off their rent arrears or supporting families struggling to secure a new home with their search and deposits.
The funding is on top of £316 million Homeless Prevention Grant already allocated to councils for 2022-23 year and is part of a £2 billion package of government support to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next three years.
Richard Fuller MP said:
This additional government funding will protect vulnerable families at risk of homelessness this Christmas.
The increased support will make a real difference to those most at risk by helping them to pay their rents or find new homes.
This follows a £200 million Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP), which will deliver up to 2,4000 homes by March 2025 for people already experiencing or at risk of experiencing rough sleeping.
Millions of vulnerable families will also benefit this winter from a wider raft of cost of living support from the Government, including assistance with energy bills and direct payments of £1,200.
For more information on the cost of living help available, please visit Richard's Support with the Cost of Living pages here.