| Monday 21st March 2005 |
103/2005 |
An organisation set up to tackle the problems of homelessness across Wigan has just won a massive £630,000 grant from the Chancellor, Gordon Brown.
The good news is the result of a successful bid by the borough’s Homelessness Forum to help groups that up to now have been excluded from mainstream homeless services, such as single people and rough sleepers. The money, announced on budget day, is for a three year period.
In recent years homelessness has rocketed in the borough. Over 3,000 people sought help from the council last year — a 65% rise in five years — but only a third of these were legally entitled to housing.
Wigan’s Homelessness Forum was set up in 2003 and has already made real progress towards improving services for homeless people, including:
News of the government grant was welcomed by housing bosses. Wigan Council’s Community Protection Director, Bob Saunders, speaking as chairman of the Homelessness Forum, said he was delighted that its work had been recognised. He said:
“It means we will be able to provide better assistance to those people not currently able to access homeless services, particularly single homeless people and rough sleepers.
“The money will particularly be used to run a direct access accommodation project in the borough, for which £1.25M funding to build has already been awarded. It will allow us to make a real difference and continue to work together to provide effective help for homeless residents.”
Wigan’s Homelessness Forum is a multi-agency group that works to improve services for homeless people across the borough. Members of the Forum include Wigan Council representatives from various departments, Wigan & Leigh Housing, housing associations, Citizens Advice Bureau, Ashton, Leigh & Wigan PCT, domestic violence agencies and many other statutory, voluntary and church led organisations.
Further information: Steve Sargent (01942) 827702.