Council and The Shrewsbury Ark extend winter service for homeless people thanks to additional funding
Shropshire Council and The Shrewsbury Ark are set to embark on delivering an enhanced winter service for rough sleepers, thanks to further government funding.
This follows additional funding being made available to the council from the Government for winter pressures to assist getting rough sleepers off the streets.
The additional £38K funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) has been provided to assist with winter pressures. This new project will involve working with The Shrewsbury Ark in extending the council’s winter support service for rough sleepers.
Those experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping are 8 to 12 times more likely to die prematurely, particularly from chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and those sleeping rough during winter are at even greater risk of ill health and long-term sickness.
The Rough Sleeping Winter Pressures Funding, a government scheme to increase the use of emergency accommodation for rough sleepers, will be tripled from £10 million to £30 million. The cash will go directly into areas experiencing rough sleeping, ultimately saving lives and supporting thousands of vulnerable people in society facing the cold weather.
The funding will help extend the winter support for rough sleepers by offering ongoing winter provision every night for the next 2 months, with the last night being Sunday 23 March 2025. Before this, accommodation has been provided to rough sleepers as part of the council’s Severe Weather Emergency Protocol, this is activated when temperatures are zero or below. The service has been held in The Shrewsbury Ark over this winter and has started a unique partnership which is hoped to inspire councils across the country to work collaboratively to support vulnerable people.
This new service will ensure support is in place every night during the coldest months. The service will involve:
- Utilising The Shrewsbury Ark’s day centre to support verified rough sleepers.
- The Council’s Rough Sleeper team and Ark team being on site each night and each morning to settle guests who are rough sleepers and provide advice and support.
- Providing food, drink, and support with the running of the service in the evenings and mornings.
- Support the councils staff and The Ark’s ongoing working in supporting rough sleepers during the winter months.
Councillor Dean Carroll, Cabinet Member for Housing and Assets said:
“Shropshire Council is delighted to have received further funding to support those who are rough sleeping, The Rough Sleeping Winter Pressures Funding will offer us new and exciting opportunities to expand our winter provision.
“We have recently experienced 10 days of below zero temperatures where the council working together with The Shrewsbury Ark have provided emergency accommodation for rough sleepers.
“We will now work with partners to identify additional short-term measures to get rough sleepers off the streets this winter, as well as call out to landlords or those who can accommodate a lodger to come forward to provide longer term accommodation. The council can work with landlords to fund deposits, rent in advance and will provide ongoing support to any new rough sleeper accommodated.
“We remain committed to tackling all forms of homelessness and look forward to utilising this extra funding to make a significant impact in the community.”
Emily Bell, Chair of The Shrewsbury Ark said:
“We are delighted to work with Shropshire Council’s Rough Sleeping Team on this unique and ground breaking initiative which we hope will inspire councils and charities across the country to rethink how we help the increasing numbers of families and people living in vulnerable situations in our communities.
“As an independent charity The Shrewsbury Ark can think about how we tackle homelessness in new and pioneering ways. Whatever has been done before hasn’t been enough and we want to make a difference in the way we support vulnerable people and ensure people are given every chance to turn their lives around.”
Call out to Private Landlords
The council is also appealing to Landlords to come forward to provide longer term accommodation and is interested in discussing options with private sector landlords who have any type of accommodation available, from flats to houses, in any area of the county. Landlords will benefit from:
- financial help to pay towards deposits and rent in advance, which is paid to landlords directly.
- tenants support and advice to help ensure that tenancies are sustainable.
- providing specialist advice on tenancy matters and changes in the law.
- help to resolve disputes if they arise.
- providing a named point of contact from the start.
If you are a private landlord or letting agent and think you can help, please e-mail accommodationpathways@shropshire.gov.uk with your details and we will be in touch.
Volunteer opportunities
If people wish to volunteer and support this initiative contact Hayley on Hayley.Thomas.Brown@shropshire.gov.uk
Concerned about someone sleeping rough
If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough in your community, please contact Streetlink.
Find out more about the government announcement here: Emergency cash tripled for rough sleepers this winter – GOV.UK
To find out more about Shropshire Council’s Homelessness prevention and rough sleeping services visit: Housing options and homelessness | Shropshire Council
To find out more about The Shrewsbury Ark, visit: www.shrewsburyark.co.uk/ or contact the Ark on 01743 363 305.