£4m to tackle homelessness

The number of new cases of people sleeping rough is falling

A grant of almost £4m is to be used to tackle the number of people in the north-east of England without a roof over their head.

In the last year new cases of people living rough has fallen by 21% to 980.

The number of people living in temporary homes has also fallen by 34%, from 710 to 470 but the government wants to cut this by 50% by 2010.

Local authorities will receive at least £40,000 to spend on funding outreach services and day care centres.

They will also spend the money on preventative schemes including mediation services to tackle youth homelessness.

Much to do

Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright said: "This record funding will help councils in the North East step up their work to prevent and tackle homelessness.

"We've seen huge progress over the last decade with new cases of homelessness at the lowest levels in 20 years.

"Rough sleeping has fallen by two-thirds, use of temporary accommodation is falling and the number of 16 and 17 year olds in bed and breakfast has fallen by a third since we set the target a year ago.

"We want to help families living in temporary accommodation into a settled home, provide better opportunities for young people facing homelessness and make further reductions in rough sleeping."