A new £20 million grants scheme has been opened up by Homeless Link for voluntary sector organisations working to tackle rough sleeping in England, with £8 million being given out in the first funding round.
The Homeless Transition Fund will award grants of up to £250,000 to protect and enhance essential services for single homeless people.
Grants will also be awarded to support the introduction of No Second Night Out and other new ways to end rough sleeping.
The independent Fund has been set up 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, the Fund will award £20 million over the next three years.
Currently running as a pilot across London, No Second Night Out is a standard that the Government wants every local authority in England to adopt. It involves having the right services in place to make sure that anyone who ends up on the streets gets rapid help, so they do not spend a second night on the streets.
The Chair of Homeless Link, Ann Skinner said:
"Voluntary organisations are better than ever at preventing people from losing their homes and, if they do end up on the streets, supporting them to get back on their feet.
"More people needed help as a result of the recession and cuts to funding for homelessness services have put this progress at risk.
"We aim to help protect essential services, giving them the breathing space they need to secure their futures. We also want to help charities to continue to move forward, developing new, more effective ways to stop people living on the streets."
Organisations have until the 30th September to submit applications. To find out more visit the Homeless Link website.
A seminar on 30 September 2011 will bring housing professionals and activists together to assess progress towards the Scottish Government's homelessness target for 2012.
Scottish Churches Housing Action has linked up with the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland to put on this event. Entitled Homelessness: achieving the 2012 pledge?, it will take place in Edinburgh.
The seminar is free, and open to housing and support staff, homeless people, councillors, church members, volunteers in homelessness projects, and campaigners.
Chief Executive Alastair Cameron said:
"The 2012 target promises an entitlement to settled housing for almost all homeless people. It was set nine years ago, and we have enthusiastically supported it.
"We are asking local authorities how they are doing as the crucial date approaches, and what will be needed to make it stick.
"Churches play a big part in helping homeless people with accommodation and support, and we believe there's more we can do."
For further details, click here.
