THOUSANDS of pounds has been given to Colchester Council to help provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers.
The £22,514 grant from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, will be used by Colchester Council to expand its support services for rough sleepers.
The move, aimed to help the homeless particularly during extreme weather conditions, is part of a larger nationwide effort, with £17million allocated towards similar ventures across the UK.
The council's Rough Sleeper Team at Colchester Borough Homes, will steer these enhanced services.
David King, leader of the council, said: "We welcome this help and any support to eradicate rough sleeping.
"Rough sleeping is a complex issue with no single solution.
"Colchester Borough Homes does a great job with local support and accommodation providers to address the root causes of rough sleeping and enable people to rebuild their lives."
The government grant will aid in the creation of a dedicated Homeless Hub, led by the rough sleeper team at Colchester Borough Homes.
The hub's main features include supplying urgent shelter during cold weather spells, tailored support for personal needs such as health care and housing access, and outreach initiatives to build relationships with those on the streets.
Mr King added: "The Homeless Hub will help make a real difference.
"(It) offers a vital lifeline to those most in need, providing them with safe shelter and the support they require to get back on their feet."
This follows on from Colchester's successful £385k it received from the government in 2021, to support rough sleepers.
Colchester Council has a 'housing first' approach, prioritising stable accommodation for rough sleepers.
The Homeless Hub aims to offer more than just physical shelter: it seeks to empower those affected by rough sleeping to transition towards a more secure future and help these individuals move away from the streets and start anew.
In order to connect rough sleepers to this resource, members of the public are encouraged to report sightings directly via Street Link.
This can be achieved through their website, mobile app, or by calling 0300 500 0914.
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