The Government has announced a new £84m cash injection to councils to help prevent homelessness and support families this winter.
The move is aimed at providing immediate help for children and families in temporary accommodation, with support for essentials like food, school travel and laundry.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed, said: “Homelessness is a moral stain on our society. Growing numbers of people have been abandoned to sleep rough on the streets and children left in squalid, overcrowded conditions.
“This government will not stand idly by and allow that to continue. We will make different choices.
“That’s why we are investing £1 billion to give homeless people the security of a roof over their heads and get back on track to end homelessness for good.”
The announcement, made on World Homeless Day, follows a record £1bn spent this year to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
Areas with the highest pressures, including London, will receive much of the new funding.
The package includes nearly £70m for the rough sleeping prevention and recovery grant, which will go to 62 local authorities to help prevent rough sleeping and keep people off the streets.
Nearly £11m will be used to help families with children in temporary accommodation pay for basic facilities such as Wi-Fi, laundry, school travel passes, uniforms, food and leisure activities.
This funding is targeted at 61 areas with the most children in temporary accommodation.
Another £3m will go to the rough sleeping drug and alcohol treatment programme, supporting 83 local authorities and a pan-London project.
A further £200,000 will boost the voluntary, community and frontline sector grant to support faith and community-led projects, including night shelters.
Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern, said: “You can’t have a decent life without a decent home.
“Whether it’s rough sleeping or sofa surfing or, at its worst, children stuck in B&Bs, homelessness in the UK has been too high for too long. This has to stop.
“Through our Plan for Change, the UK will build homes and get help to those who need it to put a roof over their head.”
McGovern added: “We’re providing extra cash now to address a crisis made over the past decade.
“Both the government’s £39bn to build social and affordable homes and the Child Poverty Strategy to come will tackle the root causes of this problem, but we need action now to stop homelessness getting any worse.”
Matt Downie, CEO of Crisis, said: “This funding is very welcome, especially as winter approaches and with homelessness rising.
“More people are likely to face the prospect of sleeping on cold streets and need support urgently.
“More parents will be working out how to help their children do homework from cramped and draughty temporary accommodation.”
Downie added: “We know that targeted support can make a big difference and help people take their first steps out of homelessness.
“We hope this announcement marks another step towards an ambitious homelessness strategy.
“Alongside a concerted effort to build social housing at scale, and ensuring all parts of Government make their contribution to ending homelessness, we can create a safer and more prosperous future for people and families across the country.”
The new funding is part of the Government’s wider plan, which also includes £950m to increase the supply of good temporary accommodation, abolishing ‘no fault’ evictions through the renters’ rights bill and a £39bn investment to deliver more social and affordable housing.
