Hull City Council given almost £70k in emergency funding to tackle homelessness

Hull City Council has been allocated £68,726 from a new emergency Government fund for rough sleepers.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, has announced an immediate £10 million emergency support package for rough sleepers. The money will go direct to councils in the highest need and support thousands of the most vulnerable people in society this winter. Last winter 155 people died sleeping rough, the Government hopes this funding will help prevent further deaths this winter.

"Anyone forced to sleep rough on our streets represents a complete failure of the broken system we’ve inherited. It’s a national disgrace, and we can’t keep sticking plasters on it," Ms Rayner has said.

READ MORE:'Very little monstrous behaviour' - Humberside Police's verdict on Halloween and Bonfire Night

READ MORE:Hull KR's 'eye-opening' charity sleep-out helps homeless with thousands raised

She added: "We are approaching the harshest months of the year which is why we are taking immediate action to reach anyone sleeping rough and help them off the streets this winter.

"Bringing together Ministers across Government is a crucial step to tackle this crisis at its root and ensure everyone has access to the basic right of safe and secure housing."

Hull City Council has been allocated £68,726 of the funding to help the city's homeless population through the tough winter months. A Council spokesperson has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

"Additional funding for winter provision to get people off the streets is always welcome. However, the problem is much wider. We have a national housing crisis, and many of the people who are homeless and sleeping rough have complex needs resulting from their mental and physical health, addictions, domestic abuse, and other trauma related problems.

"Outreach work with rough sleepers is an essential part of our Hull’s Changing Futures programme. We are one of just 15 Changing Futures initiatives nationally, set up to test new ways of bringing together public and community sector organisations to help people change their lives for the better. We encourage rough sleepers to engage with us, not only through temporary accommodation, but through health and wellbeing assistance into supported accommodation on a journey to leading more meaningful lives.

"Through Changing Futures’ outreach work, and at a time of unprecedented housing shortage, the number of rough sleepers in the city has reduced from 37 in 2023 to 21 in 2024."

Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Hull with our free newsletter