The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A bid to tackle rough sleeping in Lincolnshire has been launched.
South Holland District Council has joined North Kesteven, South Kesteven and West Lindsey authorities in creating Change4Lincs which aims to support people known to be rough sleeping or at risk of having to do so.
The project is due to be launched on Monday October 12 and part of a Rough Sleeping Initiative announced by the Ministry for Communities and Local Government in March 2018.
It has received a grant of almost £595,523 for its work going forward from the government.
The 14-strong Change4Lincs team is made up of a project co-ordinator, physical health nurse, four outreach workers, four tenancy support officers, two local lettings officers and two intensive support workers.
They aim to:
* Reduce, through prevention, the number of people at risk of rough sleeping
* Reduce the number of ‘repeat’ rough sleepers
* Reduce the number of rough sleepers who are likely to become entrenched
* Improve physical and mental health and wellbeing
* Provide effective support in settled accommodation
Christine Lawton, Portfolio Holder for HRA and Private Sector Housing at South Holland District Council, said: “The sad reality is that families and individuals are facing increased financial hardship due to COVID and the threat of homelessness is a direct consequence of that.
“District councils, by their very nature being rooted in their local communities, can help families affected – whether that’s through prevention, support to find settled accommodation or to help with financial and emotional needs.
“By working together, under the name of Change4Lincs, we can work with our partners to find the right solutions to best tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.”
