Posted on 5th Jan
The homeless and rough sleepers in Newark are being given extra support.
Newark and Sherwood District Council has secured funding of £22,846 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to provide additional support and advice for them as part of the Government’s Next Steps Accommodation Programme.
The money is being used to provide winter night shelter provision to all those identified as rough sleeping in Newark and Sherwood up to March 2021.
Newark Baptist Church is also facilitating a drop-in session at the church on Albert Street.
The drop-in service, often referred to as The Well, provides homeless people and rough sleepers with a warm and safe place to access a hot meal, as well as offering shower and laundry facilities.
Run by a team of volunteers, the drop-in is open every day from 3.30pm to 5pm. These are run via a one-way system to ensure the service remains Covid-secure.
During the drop-in sessions, volunteers are referring those using the service to appropriate agencies to offer guidance and support.
Anyone identified as rough sleeping will be referred to the district council’s Housing Options Team or other services such as the Street Outreach Team, CGL, supported housing providers and other support organisations.
The district council is working in partnership with the Baptist Church and the Salvation Army to support those who are vulnerably housed or rough sleeping and will be helping to run sessions and offer guidance when needed.
The Government’s Next Steps Accommodation Programme was introduced after recognising 15,000 people who had been sleeping rough or at imminent risk of rough sleeping had been placed into emergency accommodation during the Covid-19 pandemic. The programme provides financial support to local councils and their partners to assist rough sleepers and prevent a return to the streets.
As part of the council’s Homeless Strategy, it has pledged to remove rough sleeping across the district by 2024.
This strategy aims to identify the core issues surrounding homelessness locally and identifies key themes about how to address them.
Coun Tim Wendels, chairman of homes and communities at the council, said: “The funding provided from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will help us to achieve our pledge to remove rough sleeping across the district by 2024.
“As part of the Government’s Next Steps Accommodation Programme, the drop-in sessions and winter night shelter provision will be critical in supporting the vulnerable and homeless through winter and will give them a place to find support and accommodation.
“It’s a fantastic service for the community and we’re hopeful that it will be of great use to those that need it most.”
If you are interested in volunteering, or can supply donations such as clothes, tea, coffee or store cupboard items, contact the council’s homelessness strategy and safeguarding officer, Cheska Asman, on 01636 650000 or Newark Baptist Church lead Sara Brumhead.
