New funding to support council’s commitment to end rough sleeping

Cheshire East Council is reminding people of the support available to help those facing a night out on the streets and has welcomed additional funding to support more people into accommodation.

The council has committed to end rough sleeping across Cheshire East within its housing strategy, and a range of services are in place to provide immediate and longer-term help, which includes emergency accommodation.

Over the last three years, the council has been piloting a new approach – with some significant results – which has seen housing officers working closely with colleagues in social care and drug services as part of its outreach support to anyone found sleeping outside.

The council is also working towards providing a new rough sleeping prevention service in both the north and the south of Cheshire East that will focus on giving people the skills and support to stay in accommodation for the long-term.

It will help them to address barriers such as financial problems, mental health, addiction or offending behaviour – with the support delivered by people who have faced similar circumstances.

Now, with additional funding allocated to the council through the Government’s Rough Sleeping Winter Pressures 2024/25 Fund, the council is hoping to be able to further improve and extend the services it offers.

Councillor Michael Gorman, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council and chair of its economy and growth committee, said:

“Rough sleeping is one of the most visible types of homelessness and as a council, our aim is to reduce the number of people sleeping rough to zero.

“We know that people can find themselves rough sleeping for many different reasons, and that as well as being able to provide emergency accommodation to keep people safe and warm, we also need to tackle the underlying causes.

“Our housing team works closely with colleagues from other support services to offer tailored support wherever possible, and this additional funding from Government will further help us to provide support that can deliver lasting change.

“I encourage people to let us know as soon as possible if they encounter someone who they believe is sleeping outside so that we can do all that’s in our power to support them.”

Legislation means that there are some people the council cannot legally support, and it has no powers to move people who are sleeping rough or to force them to accept accommodation.

As well as the council’s outreach support team, who visit and support anyone reported to them as sleeping outside, the council commissions emergency beds known as ‘No Further Night Out’ beds across the borough.

There is also supported accommodation, which is longer-term and intended to help people to find a permanent home.

If you witness rough sleeping or know of someone who needs support, information can be reported online at Street Link or by calling the council on:

0300 123 5017

For further advice