Sefton MBC is to receive more than £600,000 in additional funding to help vulnerable residents at risk of becoming homeless, or who are already sleeping rough.
The cash, announced on Wednesday, includes a grant for Sefton Council worth £612,999 for use over the next 12 months.
Councillor Mike Prendergast, Leader of Sefton Conservatives, said:
"I am pleased that we have now been given further, additional cash to support the specific needs of some of our most vulnerable residents. As a resident of Sefton, I want to see this cash used to get people off the streets and into safe, long-term accommodation.
While there are many reasons why people become homeless – for example domestic abuse or family breakdown – it is vital that the council is able to respond quickly and effectively.
This extra cash means that we will be able to do more over the coming months to support our residents".
The cash announced this week follows legal requirements on councils to provide specific support and to act sooner:
- The landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021 means Sefton Council now has a legal duty to provide accommodation-based support to victims of domestic abuse and their children in safe accommodation.
- This followed the Homelessness Reduction Act in 2017 which requires councils to intervene at earlier stages to prevent homelessness in their areas.
- And, in July 2023, Operation Fortitude was launched to help veterans sleeping rough or at risk of being made homeless with specialist support while veterans have also now been given greater priority on local housing waiting lists across the country.
Sefton residents can alert local council outreach workers if they see someone sleeping rough via:
- StreetLink service at https://thestreetlink.org.uk/
- Veterans, or those working with veterans, can access Op FORTITUDE via 0800 952 0774 or through a secure web portal at www.riv.org.uk/opfortitude
