SWINDON Borough Council will receive £113,792 of government funding to provide housing for vulnerable people in the town.

The funding will provide interim accommodation and support by helping people into the private rented sector, securing interim accommodation such as supported housing, and assessing the wider support people need in order to rebuild their lives.

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland said: “This funding will make a difference to many vulnerable peoples’ lives here in Swindon, continuing to help them address complex needs and to rebuild their lives, away from the streets in safer interim accommodation.”

An additional £13.5 million fund will be used to enable local authorities across the country to tackle new or emerging challenges.

Separately, applications are now being considered for a further £161 million fund intended to provide over 3,300 additional supported homes across the country this year, for those sleeping rough or currently housed in emergency accommodation.

The bidding has now closed and details on successful bids will be announced soon. This is part of broader support to provide 6,000 such homes over four years.

The Next Steps Accommodation Programme is part of the government’s commitment to end rough sleeping for good.

Secretary of state for housing Robert Jenrick MP said: “The incredible national effort to support rough sleepers during the pandemic has protected many lives and is widely regarded as one of the most successful programmes of its kind in the world. I’m hugely grateful to all those involved.

“This funding will ensure that vulnerable people and rough sleepers continue to have safe accommodation and the care and support they need, to ensure as few as possible return to the streets.”