Reading Benefits from £945,000 Government Grant for Rough Sleeping Support

THE Council’s efforts to tackle and prevent homelessness and support people sleeping rough in Reading have been boosted by a new £945,000 grant from Government.

This ‘top-up’ funding is in addition to the existing 2025/26 Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant from Government - where the town was awarded £1,182,000 - and will allow the Council and its partners to offer an even more comprehensive local package of support this winter.

Reading is one of a number of local authorities to receive the additional funding, which has been directed to areas with the highest rough sleeping pressures and to help the Government’s aim of putting the country back on track to ending homelessness.   

Reading Borough Council already offers extensive support to tackle and help those people rough sleeping in the town, or at risk of it, which is over and above that offered by many other local authority areas. This includes working alongside charity partner St Mungo’s to deliver a rapid Severe Weather Emergency Planning (SWEP) response during extreme hot and cold temperatures, to protect the most vulnerable from the elements.

The Council additionally commissions vital services from Reading’s community and voluntary sector to accommodate and support people rough sleeping. They include The Salvation Army, Reading YMCA and Launchpad Reading. Over 250 bed spaces, which are in addition to those offered during a SWEP response, are offered across its Homelessness Support Services to help single people and couples who are found rough sleeping, or at risk of rough sleeping.

While only recently publicised by Government, the Council has known about the ‘top-up’ funding for some weeks now, which has enabled it to plan ahead of the winter period on how it can be put to best use locally. That process will now continue over the coming weeks, and the Council will work alongside partner agencies, including Reading’s voluntary and community sector, to design a comprehensive package of support which also fulfils the Government’s specifications for the funding. These include:

• Reducing and preventing rough sleeping by stabilising numbers, providing tailored support for individuals with complex challenges, and promoting long-term recovery
• Increasing prevention services to support accommodation outcomes and ensuring fewer people sleep rough for the first time before accessing services
• Further developing partnership working across local authorities and the voluntary, community and faith sector
• Strengthening multiagency approaches to improve safety and public confidence in town centres

Welcoming the news of the additional money for the town, Matt Yeo, Lead Councillor for Housing in Reading, said:

“The additional funding from central Government directed into Reading is hugely welcome and will provide a boost for what is already a comprehensive package of support towards tackling and preventing homelessness, and supporting people sleeping rough to break the cycle of homelessness.

“The Council takes great pride in the work carried out alongside our community and voluntary sector, and it is encouraging to see the importance of that link between local councils and the third sector recognised by Government.

“Over the coming days and weeks, the Council, alongside our partners, will finalise its plan of action for the winter period, whilst acknowledging that Reading is a successful, busy town. That in itself can encourage people to sleep rough who have no connection to the town, which we know is a challenge.

“The additional funding comes ahead of the winter period, when pressure is greatest, and it will allow us to further strengthen our response and continue making a meaningful difference to the lives of people most in need of support.”

Separately to the financial support for preventing homelessness and supporting people rough sleeping, Reading Council has also been selected by Government to receive a £107,047 grant to support children experiencing homelessness.  

This additional funding is intended to increase access to support and services for families with children in temporary accommodation and to make a positive impact on their quality of life whilst they remain in need. The additional funding is particularly focused toward households in emergency accommodation.