Rough sleeping initiative in Exeter receives funding boost

Published: 29 January 2020

Efforts to tackle rough sleeping in Exeter have been given a boost thanks to the awarding of a government grant.

Exeter City Council has been given £917,850 by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to continue work to address Rough Sleeping in the city.  

The funding is from the Rough Sleeping Initiative 2020-21 and will ensure existing projects such as The Night Shelter and the Council’s Housing First project are able to continue after April. 

Since October, The Night Shelter has prevented 98 people from Rough Sleeping with 25 moving on to more sustainable accommodation.  Unfortunately Exeter recorded an increase in rough sleeping numbers during the recent Autumn Count so this funding is desperately needed to ensure that future numbers remain low.  Further details on how this funding will be used to tackle rough sleeping in Exeter will be released over the coming months.

Cllr Emma Morse, Lead Councillor for Supporting People, said: “It is vital that we continue to work alongside our partners to tackle rough sleeping in the city. 

“Ending rough sleeping in Exeter is extremely challenging but latest funding will support us continuing this work.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank our officers, volunteers and our partners BCHA, St Petrocks, Julian House, Together Drug and Alcohol Service, Devon Partnership Trust, Livewell Exeter and Devon County Council, who are working together to end rough sleeping in the city.”