WIREDGOV

As of yesterday, homeless charities across England will be able to apply for grants of up £150k to invest in new ways of preventing and tackling rough sleeping.

With over 2,300 people estimated to be sleeping out on any one night, priority will be given to areas that are experiencing high levels of homelessness or increased rough sleeping amongst groups such as young people, women and migrants.

Organisations, especially those working in partnership, are encouraged to apply with ideas that help prevent rough sleeping, support individuals off the streets or ensure that, once helped, they do not become homeless again.

The fund has already seen the idea of ‘No Second Night Out’ adopted across England. It involves having the right services in place so people sleeping rough are quickly identified with the help of the public and provided with accommodation and support.

Pioneered in London, No Second Night Out has spread to 69 areas thanks to funding from the £20m Homelessness Transition Fund. An additional 51 grants have been given out for other projects to help rough sleepers.

The first 22 HTF funded projects to report on the progress to date, have helped over 8,000 people - almost 6,000 of these were new rough sleepers helped off the streets before a second night out.

In addition to the £3.5m in large grants, charities will also be able apply for grants of £5k - £25k from the separate ‘Future Ready’ fund. Under the £500k scheme, homelessness services that face pressure can apply for help to find new ways to secure their future.

Commenting, Sharon Allen, Chair of the Fund’s Grants Panel said:

“This vital funding has already had an impact, preventing thousands of people from living on our streets. 

“Rough sleeping numbers have increased for two years in a row. We want more communities to join the drive to ensure that no one sleeps out.

“If you’re a charity with a new idea for helping to end rough sleeping, we want to hear from you."

Housing Minister Mark Prisk said:

“No-one should have to face a night on the streets, and our £20 million investment to introduce a No Second Night Out principle across the country is helping to protect some of the most vulnerable in our society.

“The Homelessness Transition Fund has already made a difference to thousands of lives, and latest pot of funding is set to do more, helping to tackle rough sleeping and protecting vital homelessness services across the country.”

The independent Homelessness Transition Fund was launched in 2011 to help support the Government’s rough sleeping strategy ‘Vision to end rough sleeping: No Second Night Out nationwide’.

Administered by Homeless Link, the umbrella body for homelessness charities, and supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Fund has awarded £16m to 120 projects to date.

Expressions of interest for grants of up to £150k need to be made by 21st May 2013. Applications that are then shortlisted will be invited to submit a full bid.  A series of briefings will be held for charities interested in making an application.

To find out more, visit www.homeless.org.uk/fund