Further funding allocated to protect some of the most vulnerable
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Posted 05.11.20
GOV.UK: Further reading
A new scheme to help protect some of the most vulnerable people in our communities from COVID-19 has been announced by the Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick.
A further £15 million has been allocated to support the ongoing efforts to provide accommodation for rough sleepers during the pandemic.
Called the 'Protect Programme',the scheme will help areas that need additional support most during the restrictions and throughout winter.
This will run alongside the ongoing 'Everyone In' campaign, which is helping to protect lives during the pandemic - by September it had supported over 29,000 vulnerable people, with two-thirds now moved into settled accommodation.
The £15 million funding is on top of the £91.5 million allocated to 274 councils in September to fund their individual plans for rough sleepers over the coming months, as well as the £10 million Cold Weather Fund for all councils to help keep rough sleepers safe this winter.
Areas with high numbers of rough sleepers will receive extra targeted support to provide accommodation for those currently sleeping rough, working with councils to prioritise those who are clinically vulnerable - this will continue throughout the winter until March 2021.
In order to help prevent people being at risk of homelessness, Mr Jenrick has today also confirmed that bailiff enforcement action will not be permitted during the national restrictions or over the Christmas period.
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Updated 19.11.20
Homeless Link: Homeless charities unite against new rules that 'criminalise' rough sleeping
Homeless Link has joined forces with Crisis, Shelter, NACCOM, Liberty, the Mayor of London and others to call on government to reverse plans for rough sleeping to become grounds for refusal or cancellation of permission to be in the UK.
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