New rough sleeping centre in Thanet thanks to new funding

Thanet District Council has successfully secured £497,000 funding for a rough sleeper centre, based in Ramsgate.

The new “Somewhere Safe to Stay” rough sleeping centre will be a place where vulnerable people, currently sleeping on the streets, can access professional help and guidance, including immediate shelter and mental health support.

The funding bid was coordinated by Thanet District Council, in partnership with the charity Pathways to Independence (PtI). The centre will be located in the PtI building in Ramsgate, which was previously used by them as accommodation for ex-offenders leaving prison.

The funding allocated by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is for an initial 12 month period. It will enable PtI to provide four emergency bed spaces and seven bedsits for people at risk of / with a history of rough sleeping.

Bob Porter, Head of Housing at Thanet District Council, said:

“We are delighted that we have secured this funding as it will make a real difference to supporting rough sleepers in our District. We are committed to helping those most in need of our support and having a rough sleeper centre is an important part we had identified as missing when tackling homelessness in Thanet.

“Securing these funding bids is a crucial part of our work, which directly helps vulnerable people in Thanet to get specialist support to recover from life on the streets. Combined with our multi-agency RISE team, which is funded again for 2019/20, alongside a number of other initiatives, we are able to provide a holistic support package to help people in our community to turn their lives around.”

The funding allocated to the council is part of a £25 million funding boost announced on 3 May by Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP. The money, which has been shared with 108 local authorities across the country, will be used to fund innovative local schemes aimed at supporting people off the streets and into stable accommodation where they can receive the tailored care they need.