Kensington & Chelsea Gets £500,000 in Winter Funding to Support Rough Sleepers
Kensington & Chelsea are set to benefit from £2.7 million in winter funding aimed at addressing rough sleeping. As part of this initiative, Kensington & Chelsea winter support will provide safe, warm accommodation to help vulnerable individuals find shelter during the coldest months, alongside additional resources for other London boroughs.
Funding Distribution
| Islington | £980,000 |
| Kensington & Chelsea | £500,000 |
| Redbridge | £430,000 |
| Greenwich | £406,000 |
| Kingston | £156,000 |
The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, leads a new cross-government team working on long-term solutions to end homelessness across the UK. This year’s winter allocation follows a troubling summer in London, where 4,780 people experienced rough sleeping, and tragically, 155 lost their lives on the streets last year.
Immediate Action for Winter Relief
Angela Rayner commented on the urgency of this initiative, stating, “Anyone forced to sleep rough on our streets represents a complete failure of the broken system we’ve inherited. It’s a national disgrace, and we can’t keep sticking plasters on it.”
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With winter approaching, Rayner emphasised that the government is moving quickly to help rough sleepers find shelter and safety. “Bringing together Ministers across government is a crucial step to tackle this crisis at its root, to ensure everyone has access to the basic right of safe, secure housing,” she said.
Aiming for Lasting Solutions
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, underscored the significance of this funding for rough sleeping support across London. “No one should have to suffer the indignity of street homelessness, which is why I’m committed to working with the Government, London boroughs, and homelessness charities to put London on course to end rough sleeping in the capital for good by 2030.”
Khan highlighted the progress made in recent years, noting that “mayoral-backed services have helped over 17,600 Londoners off the streets to date.” He also acknowledged the growing need for services due to prolonged underinvestment in homelessness solutions, expressing that the additional winter funding marks a positive step toward reversing this trend and creating a more inclusive London.
Expanding Social Housing to Prevent Future Homelessness
The government has also committed £500 million to the Affordable Homes Programme, targeting up to 5,000 new social homes. Additionally, councils across the country will be allowed to retain 100% of receipts from Right to Buy property sales, allowing for reinvestment in new social housing for families in need.
For further updates on Kensington & Chelsea initiatives and EyeOnLondon’s coverage of homelessness solutions, visit EyeOnLondon Kensington & Chelsea.
