Council Wins Funding to Continue Range of Additional Rough Sleeper Support Services

Bedford Borough Council has successfully secured £383,323 in funding to continue to deliver additional support services for those sleeping rough.

An array of new, additional services to support rough sleepers were announced last year, with grant funding secured for measures including:

• Additional outreach workers
• 44 more units of accommodation
• 20 new emergency beds available over winter
• A specific Rough Sleeper Co-Ordinator post

Bedford Borough Council and its partners have worked together to ensure these measures make a positive difference on behalf of rough sleepers locally, and now confirmation has been received that further funding has been secured to enable services to continue for another year.

The further good news comes after the latest official annual count showed that the number of rough sleepers in Bedford Borough has fallen by a third.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "The continuation of these additional services is excellent news. These new measures have proved their value over the winter in terms of the amount of additional help, support and shelter that has been provided for rough sleepers. Rough sleeper numbers have fallen in Bedford Borough and we are committed to doing all we can to help maintain that progress, alongside excellent local charities and other partners."