Councils in and around Rutland and Melton have received £329,943 in Government funding to ensure that interim accommodation and support provided for rough sleepers during lockdown can continue throughout the winter months in her area.

The funding comes from the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government's Everyone In programme and will be used to help people into the private rented sector, secure interim accommodation such as supported housing, and assess the wider support these people need to rebuild their lives.

This £91.5 million national allocation follows its extensive work with the Rough Sleeping Taskforce – established in May in response to the outbreak. The Government has also announced an additional £13.5 million fund to enable Local Authorities to tackle new or emerging challenges.

Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, said: "This funding will make a difference to many hundreds of vulnerable peoples' lives locally, addressing complex needs to support them in rebuilding their lives and prevent them from returning to the streets.'

"I'm grateful to Rutland County Council, Melton Borough Council and Harborough District Council for backing this important bid and securing such vital support for those in need in Rutland and Melton".

Local Authorities are set to receive this funding following a joint bid on led by Charnwood on behalf of Melton Borough Council, Rutland County Council. Harborough District Council Blaby District Council, Hinckley and Bosworth District Council, North West Leicestershire District Council, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council.

Through the Government's Everyone In programme approximately 15,000 vulnerable people have been housed in hotels and other forms of emergency accommodation, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This includes people coming indirectly from the streets, people previously housed in shared night shelters and people who have become vulnerable to rough sleeping during the pandemic.