Poole and Christchurch Councils are set to receive £183,000 for 2019/20 to further support people sleeping rough, in addition to the existing services for rough sleeping in both towns.
The funding complements additional funding awarded to Bournemouth in the summer of 2018 (which has been used to expand and enhance existing services) and builds on the successful additional work in Bournemouth to help vulnerable people living on the streets.
This additional grant will enable the extension of additional services currently being delivered in Bournemouth to Christchurch and Poole, ensuring resources are also provided where there is a need across the conurbation.
The successful initiative will provide Poole and Christchurch with:
- An additional rough sleeping coordination support resource
- Additional flexible outreach and frontline support to people rough sleeping
- More Housing First accommodation with tailored support for those with complex needs
- Specialist mental health / psychological support and behavioural interventions
Councillor Karen Rampton, Cabinet Member for Housing, Borough of Poole, said:
“We are delighted to receive this additional funding. This will provide a huge boost to the work already taking place to support vulnerable people to get off the streets. There are often very complex reasons why someone finds themselves sleeping rough and it’s important that we are able to offer the right specialist support.”