Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to provide extra support to get homeless off streets in Newark and Sherwood

Extra support is to be made available for the homeless in Newark and Sherwood thanks to a government grant.

The district council has secured £22,846 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to provide additional support and advice for homeless people and rough sleepers through the government’s Next Steps Accommodation Programme.

The money will be used to provide winter night shelter provision to all those identified as rough sleeping in Newark and Sherwood between November 2020 and March 2021.

“The funding will help us to achieve our pledge to remove rough sleeping across the district by 2024,” said Tim Wendels, chairman of the council’s homes and communities committee.

“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 are hopeful that it will be of great use to those that need it most.”

Newark Baptist Church provides a drop-in session at the church on Albert Street in Newark.

Often referred to as The Well, it provides the homeless with a warm and safe place to access a hot meal, as well as offering shower and laundry facilities.

Run by volunteers, it is open every day, from 3.30pm to 5pm until March 2021.

These will be run via a one-way system to ensure the service remains covid-secure.

During these drop-in sessions volunteers will refer those using the service to appropriate agencies to offer guidance and support.

Anyone identified as rough sleeping will be referred to the council’s housing options team or other services, such as the Street Outreach Team, CGL, supported housing providers and other support organisations.

The councils’ homeless strategy has pledged to remove rough sleeping across the district by 2024.

The strategy identifies the core issues surrounding homelessness locally and identifies key themes about how to address them.

It can be viewed at https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/hous ing/homelessness/homelessstrategy/strategiesandactionplans/

Anyone interested in volunteering, or can supply donations such as clothes, tea, coffee or store cupboard items, contact Cheska Asman on 01636 650000 or Sara Brumhead at Newark Baptist Church.