Council given £478k to tackle homelessness

A council has been given almost half a million pounds by the government to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the area.

Cannock Chase Council has been awarded £478,251, which Councillor David Williams described as a "significant uplift" from last year's funding of £367,606.

Councillor Williams said: "I think that reflects the rise in pressure and this funding forms part of the government's £1bn commitment to ending homelessness."

The funding has come from the government's homelessness and rough sleeping funding for 2025/2026.

A report to the Labour-run council's cabinet said activity to tackle the issue included prevention, relief and staffing activities, alongside temporary accommodation.

The report said: "It is anticipated that future spend will be on these same broad activities, whilst expanding our collaborative working practices across our broader networks, including health services, social care and other sectors."

It said the aim was to prevent people becoming homeless, and offer suitable accommodation for those facing homelessness.

Williams, responsible for community wellbeing, added: "We're determined not just to manage homelessness, but to prevent it, and our ultimate ambition is to eliminate it.

He said the work would involve partnerships with social care and other services, "because homelessness isn't just a housing issue".

Councillor Sue Thornley, who has responsibility for housing, said: "It's about having the appropriate accommodation for these people. We haven't had this and people were shipped off to hotels out of the area."

The authority hopes to emulate neighbouring Stafford Borough Council, which was awarded more than £670,000 by the government three years ago to fund work to help rough sleepers.

The scheme, which provides accommodation for up to six rough sleepers at a time, is provided by Turning Point and a report last year said it was having a "positive impact on the quality of people's lives".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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