Sidmouth: District council gets over £500k to help rough sleepers

East Devon District Council has been given over £500k in government cash to help rough sleepers in the local area.

The local authority, whose successful bid to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has secured it £568,074, said that it aims "to end rough sleeping in the district over the next three years."

The money has reportedly allowed EDDC finance and hire four new employees with job descriptions related to helping rough sleepers.

Councillor Dan Ledger, EDDC's portfolio holder sustainable homes and communities, said: "With the cost-of-living crisis that we are currently facing as well as other winter pressures on the horizon, this funding is really welcomed.

"These additional posts will ensure that the council is able to offer full assistance to anyone requiring it, giving timely help, advice and support to our residents who need it most.

"This will hopefully keep as many people as possible off our streets over the next few years and help to achieve positive outcomes in securing long term sustainable accommodation for those individuals and families."

According to the district council, "several positive outcomes for former rough sleepers" have been achieved over the past few years.

In the past 12 months, between September 2021 and September 2022, EDDC said that the number of verified rough sleepers at any one time in East Devon has varied from three to 14, with August, September and October seeing the highest numbers (between 11 and 14) and February, March and April seeing the lowest numbers (with three).