Southampton City Council has secured £400,000 over two years to help rough sleepers.

 

The cash, from the Department for Communities and Local Government, will be used to offer “24-hour intensive support, accommodation and crisis intervention”.

The council says the application for the funds was developed by working in partnership with local homelessness charity Two Saints.

Southampton City Council has also been urging residents to give to charities rather than individuals through its “Begging you for lasting change” poster campaign, in partnership with local homelessness charities Two Saints and The Society of St James, in an effort to provide longer-term solutions.

Councillor Warwick Payne, cabinet member for Housing & Adult Care, said: “We already offer a lot of help to Southampton’s homeless community and thanks to this very welcome grant we’ll be able to provide more assistance. We especially want to intervene when people are at risk of becoming homeless or have just arrived on the street, as this is perhaps the best chance we have of getting people to accept help.”

He said: “In response to feedback from the majority of residents we’re taking action on antisocial begging through our PSPO [Public Space Protection Orders], but also offering additional assistance to the genuinely homeless. We will always help those who are willing to accept our help.”

 

• if you want to donate, you can do so as follows:
Society of St James: TEXT ‘SOST10’ then the amount, e.g. £3 to 70070
Web: https://www.justgiving.com/sotonst-outreach

Two Saints: TEXT ‘TSDC30’ then the amount, e.g. £3 to 70070.

Previously: Public Space Protection Orders: 'need reviewing'