MP Will Quince has pledged his support to help Colchester Council win a share of £100 million in Government funding set aside to eradicate rough sleeping.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire announced the cash yesterday, which will see £50 million to pay for homes for people moving on from temporary accommodation.

Up to £30 million has been pledged to treat rough sleepers’ mental health conditions.

Exact details of the how local authorities can bid for the money are yet to be announced.

Government bosses hope the move will halve rough sleeping in England by 2022 and eradicate it by 2027. They say rough sleepers will be offered “rapid specialist assessments” and will have bespoke plans drawn up which are tailored to their circumstances.

Experts say the number of rough sleepers in Colchester fluctuates from between ten and 30 but is generally considered to be in the mid-teens.

An early response rough sleeper co-ordinator post was created by Colchester Council in October after a successful cash bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Andrew Grimwade is already tasked with compiling information on each rough sleeper to determine how they could best be helped.

Tina Bourne, Colchester councillor responsible for housing and communities, said: “I welcome further funding to address issues of rough sleeping around the country.

“We await the details of the Government’s funding criteria and we will make an application as soon as these details are published.

“This will complement our existing resources tackling homelessness prevention and particularly rough sleeping in the borough.”

The scheme will take a housing first approach - a model which places housing as a basic human right rather than a reward.

Homeless charities say its success around the world is because once homelessness is eliminated from a person’s life, stability can occur faster.

MP Mr Quince added: “I will be standing squarely behind Colchester Council in any application it makes for this money.

“The housing first model is proven around the world and, in Colchester, it will mean the options available to help people at an earlier stage of rough sleeping will be much greater.

“If you don’t address the reasons someone may be rough sleeping until further down the line, the outcome is much less likely to be a positive one. Housing first will make a big difference.”