A FURTHER £140k has been awarded to help tackle the issue of rough sleeping in Fareham.

Fareham Borough Council has been successful in a bid to help tackle the issue of rough sleeping for the year 2020/21.

In 2019, the council secured short-term funding to increase the Outreach Service in Fareham which is provided by the Council’s partner, Two Saints.

As a result, Two Saints were able to employ two Outreach Workers who, between them, are the equivalent of around 1.5 full time employees, and complement the service already provided in Fareham and Gosport.

These posts have made a significant difference to the level of support provided to rough sleepers and have been key in helping some of them make a move into more permanent homes.

Gosport Borough Council and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Council has successfully secured funding of £141,450 for the next year.

The money will enable the excellent work of the Outreach Service to continue and fund two further posts, enabling Two Saints to provide an enhanced service.

The new posts will focus particularly on helping those leaving prison and with complex needs such as substance misuse issues, mental health needs and behavioural challenges, to find and maintain suitable accommodation.

It comes after the council introduced security guards to tackle anti-social behaviour in Fareham.

The security team carries leaflets to hand out to rough sleepers that provides information for them about where they can go to get help.

Cllr Trevor Cartwright, Executive Member for Health and Public Protection said: "This funding is really good news for Fareham and will enable us to build on the good work we have already seen, particularly in Fareham Town Centre.

"It is important to take the time to understand the range of issues that has brought someone to sleep rough so that we can try to provide the most appropriate help for them."