Can £5.5m funding make sure no one sleeps rough in the West Midlands this Christmas?

More than £5 million will be pumped into helping West Midlands rough sleepers get a roof over their heads at Christmas.

The Government has awarded £5.5 million to Mayor Richard Parker and will be distributed to Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils.

Funding will be used provide accommodation and support to anyone sleeping on the street who wanted it.

Innovative approaches developed during the pandemic, alongside practical help with housing, health and other needs, will be rolled out.

Birmingham will receive £2.6 million while Coventry will be awarded £815,000, Dudley £317,000, Sandwell £533,000, Solihull £360,000, Walsall £394,000 and Wolverhampton £505,000.

Most recent figures show 158 people sleeping rough on a single night in the West Midlands, equating to 5.1 people per 100,000 of the population.

Mr Parker announced the funding news while visiting Coventry City Council’s Rough Sleepers Outreach Team who are out five mornings a week supporting vulnerable individuals and people sleeping rough across the city.

He said: “Hearing the stories of people sleeping on the streets left me in no doubt about how quickly homelessness can strip away your health, confidence and opportunities.

“Its impact can be devastating, but it does not have to define your future.

“There is brilliant work happening across the West Midlands, with councils, charities and others working hard to prevent homelessness and support people at risk.

“This money from the Prime Minister will do more than put a roof over someone’s head this Christmas. It will give people the stability and support they need to rebuild their lives.

“We’re clear in our ambition to keeping working together to make sure no one has to sleep rough before they can get the help they need to turn their life around.”

Councillor Naeem Akhtar, cabinet member for housing and communities at Coventry City Council, said: “This money will enable us to continue to work with our partners to ensure everyone has a roof over their head in Coventry this Christmas, and the support they need to stay there.

“There are many reasons why people can find themselves sleeping rough and we provide a wide range of services to help them and to find the security and safety they need for their pathway out of rough sleeping and homelessness.

“That is so important for everyone and we are delighted we will be able to help even more people at Christmas and over the winter months.

“This cash will be a real boost and how we spend it will be a real team effort, helping to continue the good work we do here in Coventry.”

Earlier this year, just over £18 million funding was agreed by West Midlands Combined Authority Investment Board to go towards tackling homelessness and rough sleeping in Birmingham and Coventry where there is high need.