Community Funds To Help Tackle Borough’s Homelessness

Community groups and charities in Ribble Valley can apply for a slice of £50million to help tackle homelessness.

The Government has launched two funds to tackle homelessness and reduce long?term rough sleeping across the UK.

And local groups can apply for up to three years of revenue funding and/or one year of capital funding of between £50,000 and £200,000 for schemes that align with Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Homelessness Strategy and meet council approval.

The £37million Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund will supercharge the work of voluntary, community and faith groups, who are often the first port of call for people in crisis.

The funds will be allocated to small and medium-sized organisations delivering day-to-day prevention and support services.

The money can be spent on support projects, staffing and building improvements to expand capacity, strengthen community networks and develop long?term, trauma?informed approaches to ending homelessness.

A further £15million Long-Term Rough Sleeping Innovation Programme will target areas facing the greatest rough sleeping pressures.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:

Homelessness is one of the most profound challenges we face as a society. I have seen for myself the vital work that organisations are doing to support people who have nowhere to live and this funding will help those incredible frontline workers.

It is the next step in our National Plan to End Homelessness, which will finally tackle this shameful crisis on our streets.

Prospective Ribble Valley schemes will need the approval of the borough council, which is particularly keen to address homelessness caused by domestic violence, rural outreach and the provision of day services for rough sleepers.

Mark Hindle, chairman of Ribble Valley Borough Council’s health and housing committee, said:

Homelessness doesn’t always equate to rough sleeping and many households classed as homeless will be living in temporary accommodation, staying with family, sleeping in cars, or ‘sofa surfing’ at several houses. And we know the picture is even starker for women, with domestic abuse being a significant driver of homelessness, which often goes unnoticed in rural areas.

This package will bring welcome support to those local voluntary, community and faith organisations, who undertake excellent work aligning with local need and are supporting some of our most vulnerable residents.

The latest research shows that nearly 70 per cent of women rough sleeping in the past year had experienced domestic abuse since age 16.

The Government has set a target of halving violence against women and girls within a decade, and taking steps to prevent homelessness for survivors will be a vital part of this.

The Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund will run from 2026 to 2029 and is open to voluntary, community and faith-based organisations with an annual income below £5million.

Applications close at midday on 31 March. To discuss draft proposals, please phone Ribble Valley Borough Council’s housing team on 01200 425111.