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The Department of Levelling Up, Homes and Communities (DLUHC), has invited bid submissions for Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) funding for a period of three years, an increase on the usual offer of a yearly submission.

The Council has been successful over the previous three years in securing funding through the RSI and welcomes the opportunity to bid for the longer three-year period.

The extended funding will ensure the sustainability of the Council’s rough sleeper service and means they can also look to adapt the service for the future. One consideration will be to offer a Housing First policy that offers rough sleepers permanent housing as quickly as possible, as well as providing additional supportive services afterward.

The RSI services considers the health and wellbeing of service users as a key priority. RSI service users are some of the most vulnerable people in our borough. There is a wealth of documented evidence showing the level of inequalities suffered in relation to the physical and mental health of rough sleepers.

This vital service therefore will go a long way to address such health inequalities and provide these vulnerable individuals the care they need.

Working in close partnership with several other agencies, the Council have made great strides in reducing the number of rough sleepers in the borough, with a year-on-year reduction of rough sleepers seen annually for the last three years.

Cllr Clare Golby, Cabinet member for Housing and Communities said:

“This is really good news; the extended period of funding will really allow us to strengthen our service and look at our long-term offer. 

“The service we provide has really shown to make a difference. Working with our partner agencies in Nuneaton and Bedworth, we have shown that we can make an impact and help get people off the streets and start getting their lives back on track.

 “This funding will allow us to look at even more ways we can improve our service and continue to offer essential help to these most vulnerable individuals.”