Urgent steps to provide homeless people and those sleeping rough with accommodation is being taken by Adur & Worthing Councils as lockdown restrictions begin to be lifted.
The Councils have worked effectively over the last few years to tackle homelessness, working with partners to adopt a proactive and preventive approach.
Cllr Daniel Humphreys, Leader of Worthing Borough Council, said:
“Following the directive from the government in March, we acted quickly to ensure all those who needed support were accommodated during the pandemic. A key part of this has been securing a local hotel, which has allowed us to offer direct support to vulnerable people during an extremely stressful and uncertain time for all and we are incredibly grateful for the support of this hotel during these times
“As part of the government's move to open up the hospitality industry on 4th July 2020, this hotel has been informed by their insurance underwriter that this agreement can no longer continue.
“We are now doing everything we can to support all of those who have been accommodated in the hotel over the coming week.”
Cllr Humphreys also called on the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to recognise the costs borne by councils such as Worthing during the lockdown.
He said:
“We completely understand the reasoning behind the directive to ensure everyone had a roof over their heads during the lockdown and here in Worthing we responded magnificently. The Government must recognise that now lockdown is easing we have been left with a significant hole in our budget and an ongoing problem with those we have housed above and beyond our statutory, and funded, duty which continues to put an even greater strain on council finances.”
You can read more HERE.