Rough sleeping in Fareham to be tackled with £141,000 funding from government

Fareham Borough Council has been awarded £141,450 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which will expand the work of its rough sleeping outreach service, provided by charity Two Saints.

The funding will enable the charity to take on two further workers, who will focus on helping those leaving prison and those with complex needs such as substance misuse and mental health issues to find and remain in accommodation.

It comes as the council is spending £70,000 to employ two security guards to patrol Fareham town centre, helping to direct rough sleepers to the Two Saints service. The council has also launched a free card that allows residents to donate to a homeless shelter, as a way for residents to deter beggars.

Speaking about the central government funding, Councillor Trevor Cartwright, executive member for health and public protection, said: ‘This funding is really good news for Fareham and will enable us to build on the good work we have already seen, particularly in Fareham town centre.

‘It is important to take the time to understand the range of issues that has brought someone to sleep rough so that we can try to provide the most appropriate help for the.’

In 2019, the the council secured short-term funding for Two Saints to employ two outreach workers, who are the equivalent of around 1.5 full time employees, and complement the service already provided in Fareham and Gosport.

In November, Portsmouth council formed a group of four workers to provide support to rough sleepers in the city after receiving government funding of £275,000. The project will be delivered in part by homelessness charity, the Society of St James.

Fareham Borough Council works with a number of agencies to help those sleeping rough in the borough under the umbrella of Fareham Street Aid.