By Rough sleepers in England to be offered accommodation amid Covid fears
The Government has announced a £28 million funding boost as part of its Protect and Vaccinate scheme to provide accommodation for rough sleepers in England.
Funding will see mobile clinics set up, outreach work in shelters and money for councils to provide safe accommodation.
This comes after the government announced their major vaccine rollout, encouraging the public to receive their booster jabs due to the new Covid variant Omicron.
The government hopes that the funding will encourage rough sleepers to get vaccinated as many worry about the side effects when living on the streets.
Minister for Rough Sleeping, Eddie Hughes, said: “In the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases and a new variant, we have an even greater responsibility to protect vulnerable people.
“I’m very pleased to announce this funding today, to make sure as many people as possible are vaccinated and that councils can protect people sleeping rough and put a roof over their heads.”
Councils will join with charities to identify those who are sleeping rough and work with local housing associations or charities and hotels to provide accommodation.
Although the UK has one of the highest vaccine uptakes in the world – with more than 85 per cent of adults double jabbed, according to government data – millions are yet to have their full vaccine course.
