Charity fears 'sticking plaster' for homelessness

There are concerns that there will not be enough beds available to help people sleeping rough on the streets over winter

A homelessness charity in Wolverhampton has said additional funding announced by the government is likely to be only a "sticking plaster".

"For us, the most important thing is having long-term solutions for people," said Tom Hayden, chief executive of the Good Shepherd.

Wolverhampton will receive £77,000 from a £10m pot of government funding to protect homeless people from cold weather this winter.

The deputy mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority insisted there would be enough beds for rough sleepers, and praised the government for working with local authorities.

City of Wolverhampton Council routinely helps between three and 11 rough sleepers on any single night, and can work with 30-40 across a month.

Mr Hayden said: "No-one in this day and age should have to sleep rough on the street, so it's really important that we provide that sticking plaster, that emergency support."

His charity aims to end homelessness in a more long-term way and create pathways out of poverty.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said of the extra funding: "£10m is about recognising the catastrophic emergency situation we now see with homelessness in this country... many more people are finding themselves rough sleeping."

Deputy mayor Sharon Thompson told BBC Midlands Today: “The key thing is making sure we can get [homeless people] in, and work with them through those different issues they have and making sure there is a sustainable approach to making sure they can move forward with their lives in a way that is sustainable for them.”