BCP Council has been awarded £7.3 million over a three-year period from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) to provide accommodation for rough sleepers.

The authority’s Rough Sleeping Initiative aims to help people move off the streets and out of danger permanently.

Whilst the number of those rough sleeping in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has been declining over the past three years, with a decrease from 72 in 2019 to 29 in 2021, the funding will support strategic and multi-disciplinary planning with a continued focus on prevention.

This follows previous increasing amounts of funding from DLUHC over the last four years.

Cllr Hazel Allen, lead member for Homelessness, said: “Our mission is to work with partners and make sure that everyone in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole has a safe place to live. We thank our community partners for their continued dedication and tireless efforts towards our shared goal of ending homelessness.

“With the current cost of living crisis and added financial pressures, we are increasingly focussing on prevention strategies. This funding is crucial and will allow us to continue this essential work, which offers a lifeline to people who are rough sleeping and those at risk of losing their homes.”