Funding secured to help Lewisham’s homeless
Lewisham Council will be receiving £275,000 to assist rough sleepers after being awarded a government grant.
Funds will go towards enhancing the Housing First initiative which assists the homeless with other issues. Alongside that will be money for the 999 Club shelter at Deptford Broadway.
The 999 Club recently featured in a guest post at 853 explaining what they do. They are also running a crowdfunder appeal to raise £20,000 for their work. Whilst central government funds are welcome it’s far from enough.
The number of homeless people in the borough rose by 270% between 2011/12 and 2016/17.
Previously the shelter only operated in the winter months, and these funds are to enable work to continue year round.
The crowdfunder page can be seen here.
Lewisham is another council whose coffer is stuffed with s106 money. Shameful.