Homelessness charity faces 'funding cliff-edge'

Roundabout's chief executive Ben Keegan said the charity would be unable to maintain all of its services without government funding

A youth homelessness charity has warned of a "perilous funding cliff-edge" that could put the most vulnerable people at risk of ending up on the streets.

Roundabout currently supports 380 people aged 16 to 25 across South Yorkshire and aims to end youth homelessness in the region.

Chief executive Ben Keegan said the charity was now at risk of losing out on £65,000 annual government funding which could lead to service cuts.

The government said it was taking steps to end homelessness and prevent it "before it occurs".

The Sheffield-based charity provides emergency accommodation for those most at risk and offers advice, family mediation and employment help.

The £65,000 of grants help sustain the charity's rapid rehousing service for about 30 of its most vulnerable young people who are at risk of sleeping rough.

Roundabout said the funding, which was announced by the previous government in the 2021 spending review, would come to an end at the end of 2024.

'Busiest we have ever been'

Mr Keegan said the charity could bridge a funding gap through fundraising in the short term but would not be able to sustain it.

"In South Yorkshire we have no one under 25 sleeping rough currently and that’s primarily thanks to the funding," Mr Keegan told the BBC.

"It would be a real loss to the region if this funding goes and we have to reduce our services."

Mr Keegan, alongside charity Homeless Link, is now calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to extend the current funding package in the autumn Budget until 2025/26 and make tackling youth homelessness "an absolute priority".

He said: “We have been supporting young people in South Yorkshire for more than 40 years and the harsh reality is that this is the busiest we have ever been.

“There is an ever-growing demand from young people in desperate housing need in our region and the call for all our many services is at an all-time high."

'Spending plans'

According to Roundabout, rough sleeping rose nationally by 27% in 2023 and by 60% since 2021.

A spokesperson for The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said ministers were developing a "long-term strategy to end homelessness".

They added: "We will also prevent homelessness before it occurs by banning Section 21 evictions and delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

"As announced by the Chancellor on 29 July, spending plans for 2025-26 will be set alongside the Budget on 30 October. Following departmental review and processes, funding allocations for rough sleeping services will be announced in the usual way."

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