New £442m investment in tackling homelessness will help Harrogate's rough sleeping issues

A Harrogate homeless charity has welcomed new Government funding to tackle rough sleeping as an “enormous sign of commitment” from Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

The new Labour Prime Minister made ending rough sleeping his first pledge on entering Downing Street in July and now says he wants "to get everyone in for Christmas".

As part of a £442 million package, emergency accommodation will be provided to end the need for rough sleeping alongside practical support for health needs.

Among the places to benefit will be Harrogate where the head of a local charity has praised the new injection of funding for rough sleeping initiatives in the Harrogate district.

"This is significant investment that helps our charity provide the onsite services needed by those we support,” said Richard Cooper, Chief Executive of Harrogate Homeless Project.

"Taken alongside other national announcements, it is an enormous sign of commitment to the Prime Minister’s aim of eliminating rough sleeping.

"It means we can make big progress towards supporting more of those who are ready to take the first steps back to long-term independent accommodation.

"I thank the Prime Minister for taking this truly significant step.

“Over our 35-year history we have helped hundreds of people from the streets into work, a house and a new life.

"Now we can do so much more.”

Founded in May 1992, the Harrogate Homeless Project not only supports vulnerable adults in the Harrogate district, it helps turn their lives around and get them off the streets permanently.

As part of the Government’s extended Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund (EHCF) a suite of local support services are set to be funded.

Some of these will be improvements to the fabric of Harrogate’s accommodation for entrenched rough sleepers - replacement bathrooms and storage areas in Harrogate Homeless Project’s (HHP) hostel and improvements to facilities at their Springboard day centre.

More cash is being provided for targeted support for drug and alcohol addiction, assistance with everyday living skills like cooking and budgeting to help people overcome barriers to independent living such as providing furniture or covering furnishing expenses.