Leicester secures £3.4m to get rough sleepers into accommodation by Christmas
Leicester City Council has secured more than £3.4m to fund rough sleeping support and 63 extra specialist accommodation units.
People sleeping rough in Leicester could receive help into accommodation before Christmas 2026 after the city council secured more than £3.4 million in government funding.
Six support projects and 63 extra specialist accommodation units are planned in the first year. The initial projects are scheduled to begin in November, so support workers can start assisting people in finding accommodation before Christmas.
The award includes £2.24 million in revenue funding over three years and almost £1.2 million in capital funding for additional accommodation. It is part of the national Rough Sleeping Programme, which aims to offer everyone sleeping rough a route off the streets before Christmas 2026.
Leicester outreach services recorded 748 occurrences of rough sleeping over the past year. The funding is aimed particularly at people who have slept rough for a long time, those at risk of returning to the streets and people with multiple or complex needs.
Plans include supported accommodation, specialist outreach to move people directly into housing, help for people leaving prison and support to settle into and keep longer-term homes. The council is working with housing providers, charities, the NHS, social care, substance misuse services and community organisations.
Cllr Elly Cutkelvin, deputy city mayor and lead for housing, said: “Our immediate focus is to help as many people as possible off the streets before Christmas, while also making sure they receive the long-term support needed to maintain a home and avoid returning to rough sleeping in the future.”
People sleeping rough can contact the council’s Transitions Team on 0116 454 0190 or [email protected] for advice, support and help finding accommodation. Adults sleeping rough can also be reported through StreetLink, which forwards the report to the council’s outreach team; the team will attempt to locate the person and provide assistance. If the person appears to be under 18, call 999.
The council’s homelessness prevention service is on 0116 454 1008. It is open 9am to 4.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 1pm to 4.30pm on Tuesday, with emergency cover from 8am.
