Liverpool Council is to receive more than £1.6m from the government to help fulfil Prime Minister Andy Burnham's goal of giving rough sleepers a route indoors before Christmas. The funding forms part of a wider programme announced in October, when Mr Burnham pledged more than £400m to provide people with a route off the street for years to come, a commitment confirmed in last week's budget.
Council signs off on grant
The city's housing directors have confirmed the council will accept the grant as part of its wider rough sleeping programme. A report confirming the decision said Mr Burnham had set the ambition to tackle "one of the starkest injustices in the country."
To do so, the council will be given £1.6m for 2026/27, ringfenced for this purpose. The grant will provide rapid support and accommodation options for people sleeping rough or at immediate risk of rough sleeping, ensuring that everyone has an offer of a route off the street and that as many people as possible are supported into accommodation before this Christmas.
Funding to support prevention and accommodation
Speaking last month, Mr Burnham said: "Rough sleeping isn't a fact of life. It's a thing governments either choose to accept or don't. Well I don't accept it. That's why we're doubling funding so that people aren't just offered a safe route off the streets this winter but have that same support right through the rest of this Parliament too. But we can't do it alone. If we're going to end rough sleeping, we need every part of society behind us on this."
Liverpool's funding will be delivered in line with government guidance, with investment focused on prevention, targeted support and effective accommodation solutions for people who are at risk of or experiencing rough sleeping.
Reduction in rough sleeping numbers
According to the city council's own analysis, Liverpool continues to experience high levels of rough sleeping, but early evidence indicates its new approach is having a positive impact. Since its transformation work began in April, the number of people seen sleeping rough over the course of a month has reduced by 40%.
Funding for years two and three will be allocated to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority rather than the city council directly. A spending plan has also been agreed, with more than two thirds of the grant going towards direct delivery and the remaining funding to provide required staffing resources.
