Every rough sleeper will be offered accommodation at Christmas, says mayor as he announces £5.5m support

The elected mayor for the West Midlands has pledged to offer every rough sleeper in the region a roof over their head at Christmas after receiving £5.5 million from the Government.

Richard Parker said the money would be used to provide accommodation and support to anyone sleeping on the street who wanted it.

The funding will be handed to the region’s seven local councils as part of a national drive by Prime Minister Andy Burnham to end rough sleeping.

However, the lion’s share of the money will go to Birmingham and Coventry, which have been identified as being in the greatest need.

Under the scheme will get £2.6 million - almost half of the money - with Coventry receiving £815,000. This is in addition to £18 million agreed by the West Midland Combined Authority Investment Board in the summer to tackle homelessness across the two cities, after they were among 40 areas identified as having the highest levels of need.

Sandwell will receive £533,000, Wolverhampton £505,000, and Walsall £394,000, while Solihull will get £360,000 and Dudley £317,000.

Mr Parker said innovative approaches developed during the pandemic, alongside practical help with housing, health and other needs, will be used to give people the opportunity to build a more stable future.

He said this would also help prevent people from reaching the streets in the first place.

A recent study identified 158 people sleeping rough on a single night in the West Midlands, accounting for 5.1 per 100,000 of the population, below the English average of 8.2 per 100,000.

The funding was announced as the mayor spent time with Coventry City Council’s rough sleepers team, which goes out five mornings a week supporting vulnerable individuals and people sleeping rough across the city.

He said: “When you hear the stories of people sleeping on the streets you're 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.

“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.

“It's on top of the brilliant work already happening across the West Midlands, with councils, charities and others working hard to prevent homelessness and support people at risk.

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

Mr Parker said a wide range of support services were already in operation across the region, including the combined authority’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Programme which last year used £920,000 to directly help 750 people move away from, or avoid, rough sleeping.

Street Support Network West Midlands, which connects local people and organisations who are looking to help those most in need, has reached more than 20,000 people, directing them towards information and support.