Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Safety, Wellbeing and Tackling Homelessness introduced the report.

The report referred to the annual bid round for grants made to organisations providing homelessness prevention services. It provided an overview of the process, the grant eligibility criteria, and the budget.

In response to questions from those present the Cabinet Member said the following:

      i.         Noted the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources stated the Government had honoured its commitment to increase funding for homelessness, rough sleeping, and domestic abuse. Under the Fair Funding element of the local government settlement, the Council’s allocation was set to rise to £2.2 million by 2028/29. This provided continuity of support for homelessness services, prevention work, and pathways that helped people move into stable accommodation and employment.

    ii.         Welcomed the comment from the Cabinet Member for Communities who emphasised the vital impact of the homelessness prevention grants, noting the strong overlap between communities work and homelessness support. Expressed confidence that the projects funded through this programme would provide valuable assistance to some of the most vulnerable residents.

   iii.         Cambridge City Council unseen partnership work supported rough sleepers, fostering relationships with the Street Pastors, St John Ambulance, and others, who regularly checked on rough sleepers in the city centre, ensuring they have accommodation and support.

  iv.         Crossways was open with twenty beds under the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP): welcomed the extension of this provision into the summer months emphasising the importance of raising public awareness of the significant amount of work taking place.

    v.         Confirmed that support and accommodation were available throughout the year and that, in principle, no one should have to sleep rough, assistance was always offered wherever possible.

  vi.         The Street Outreach Team was the primary point of contact for rough sleepers. Information about how to reach them was widely publicised on the Council’s website. The Team provided excellent and supportive response when contacted and it was important to promote this route for anyone wanting to help people sleeping rough.

https://www.changegrowlive.org/service/cambridge-street-outreach/infoThere was also the StreetLink app to assist in reporting concerns.

Cabinet unanimously resolved to:

      i.         Approve the award of homelessness prevention grants to voluntary and community organisations for 2026-27, as set out in Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report.