More than £9.2 million has been awarded to BCP Council to help prevent homelessness and support rough sleepers through targeted interventions.
The funding, provided by the Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government, is one of the highest allocations in the country.
It will be used to help prevent at-risk residents from becoming homeless and deliver a wide range of support and accommodation for those directly impacted.
The bulk of the money – £8.7 million – is for the council’s 2025/26 financial year.
It forms part of a range of homelessness and rough sleeping grants covering prevention work, rough sleeping support and accommodation, drug and alcohol treatment and recovery interventions.
An additional £509,000 is for the remainder of this financial year, up until the end of March, and is specifically to support those who are at risk of sleeping on the street.
The funding will provide resources to help this group back into accommodation suitable for their needs.
BCP Council says it’s already increased its programme of acquiring new temporary homes and continues to work with partners to deliver long-term housing options for those at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.
Cllr Kieron Wilson, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services at BCP Council, said: “This level of funding is much welcomed, and works towards our ambition of ending homelessness and supports our vision of ensuring everyone has a safe place to call home.
“Having a home is the foundation on which we all build our lives, and fundamental to health and wellbeing, that is why we will continue to work with partners across the region to support those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
“We have already seen a 30 per cent increase in our prevention outcomes in the last year, where we have kept more people in their homes, so this funding will ensure we can build on that work and provide positive outcomes through targeted interventions and early support.”