Following meeting with James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Communities, Crawley MP Henry Smith has welcomed new Government investment to help West Sussex support rough sleepers into safe and stable accommodation where they can rebuild their lives.

As a result West Sussex is set to receive £336,000 to help vulnerable people get the specialist support they need to keep them off the streets for good. The money for the Rapid Rehousing Pathway will fund innovative local schemes which will help those sleeping rough off the streets for good, as well as specialist support to help them back on their feet.

Henry said;

“No one should have to face a night on the streets, and it’s good to see the Government taking steps to ensure that in Crawley people aren’t faced with this as their only option.

“I’m pleased to have successfully lobbied for this new support which will mean vulnerable people in Crawley get the specialist support they need to get back on their feet and turn their lives around. We’re determined to end rough sleeping, and this investment takes us another step further to reaching this outcome.”

As part of this, new support workers will act as a single point of contact to help people with complex needs such as substance abuse and mental health problems to get the advice and support they need to turn their lives around. Dedicated letting agents will also be funded to provide advice and housing for those sleeping on the streets.

The funding forms part of the Government’s £100 million plan to end rough sleeping by 2027. Already progress is being made with the first fall in rough sleeping since 2010, but schemes like this will help achieve the ambition of being a country in which no-one needs to sleep on the streets.