Posted 02.01.13
The initiative that aims to stop rough sleepers spending more than one night on the streets has been extended to York.
Archbishop John Sentamu launched the 'no second night out initiative', to work alongside other homelessness agencies in the City.
The scheme has been developed with local organisations - including the Salvation Army, the Peasholme Charity, York Council and the Richmond Fellowship.
Although rough sleeping in York is relatively low, the City has seen an increase over the past 12 months from two rough sleepers a night to eight.
Archbishop Sentamu recently chaired the Fairness Commission report in York, which produced 10 fairness principles underpinning six recommendations. One of the main principles was to support and empower the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in society.
No second night out was started in London by Mayor Boris Johnson in an attempt to end rough sleeping in the Capital. The Government announced it was extending the scheme nationally at the end of 2011.
Posted 11.01.13
Homeless Link publishes Who is supporting people now?, which explores the impact of funding changes on local authorities, services and the people they support in seven communities in England. These include:
The report makes a number of recommendations for local authorities and services, to ensure that vulnerable people do not have to pay the price of funding cuts. These include:
Posted 18.01.13
Twenty-two communities will be awarded grants that total £3,600,000 to help ensure that no-one spends a second night on the street. It is estimated that over 2,000 people are sleeping rough on any one night in England.
The funding follows the launch of StreetLink, a new England-wide hotline and website which enables concerned members of the public to help connect a rough sleeper with local advice and services.
Since its launch in December 2012, StreetLink has been contacted over 4,000 times by the public, far exceeding initial expectations and showing the public's willingness and desire to help.
This new grant will help charities across the country to deliver the StreetLink promise to provide the first step towards connecting rough sleepers with the support available to them.
The funding comes from the £20 million Homelessness Transition Fund, which is administered by umbrella organisation Homeless Link and funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
