An initiative to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in Barrow has received a financial boost from the Government.

More than £400,000 has been awarded to local councils in Cumbria to support rough sleepers, sofa surfers and those at risk of rough sleeping across the county.

In Barrow, the money will be used to pilot a 'housing first model' alongside a navigator role who will provide intensive support for single homeless applicants with complex needs.

Cllr Kevin Hamilton, Barrow Borough Council’s spokesperson for housing and the chair of the authority’s housing management forum, welcomed the news.

He said: “We are pleased to receive a proportion of the countywide funding for the development of a full time navigator role which will assist the authority in piloting a housing first model.

“This is designed to make sure homeless applicants considered to be vulnerable with complex needs receive the intensive support they need.”

The funding was awarded after Carlisle City Council submitted a partnership bid to the Department for Communities and Local Government on behalf of councils in Cumbria.

It resulted in an award of £416,340 for the 2020/21 year for councils within the partnership - Barrow Borough Council, South Lakeland District Council, Copeland Borough Council, Carlisle City Council, Allerdale Borough Council and Eden District Council.

Commenting, Barrow MP Simon Fell said the Government is committed to ending homelessness: “I am delighted that funding to tackle rough sleeping in Cumbria will increase to £394,028 this year.

"This Conservative government has shown it is absolutely determined to end rough sleeping, and I was especially pleased to see the government bring forward its target of achieving this from 2027 to 2024 at the last election.

"There is still a lot more we can do, and I’ll be working with the council and local organisations to ensure the additional funds are spent locally in the most effective way, so that no one in our area has to sleep out in the cold this winter.”