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Homelessness Sector: Funding, Frustrations & Fresh Solutions

Side view of male on street begging, waiting help by citizens. Senior homeless man in old clothes sit on floor in cold weather.

At Lamplight, we believe that staying informed is key to supporting our customers effectively. That’s why each team member is assigned a specific area within the charity sector to research and report on quarterly. This approach helps us maintain up-to-date, specialist knowledge of the challenges and developments our users may be facing.

This quarter, Rusel has been exploring the Homelessness sector, uncovering key updates in funding, policy, and service delivery. His findings highlight the evolving landscape of support for rough sleepers, veterans, and disabled individuals, as well as some of the ways councils and charities are responding to urgent housing needs.

Read on for Rusel’s roundup of the latest news and insights from the homelessness sector.

The homelessness sector has received a significant injection of funding and attention this month, with Stafford Borough Council securing £730,000 from the UK Government to tackle homelessness. In a collaborative move, the council is sharing this funding with key third-sector partners:

  • Citizens Advice will offer vital support and guidance to those at risk.
  • Turning Point receives £260,153 to provide accommodation for former rough sleepers with complex needs.
  • WayThrough is allocated £38,000 to expand its rough sleeper accommodation services.

The remaining £430,000 will be used by the council to bolster its own services, including:

  • The Sanctuary Scheme for vulnerable individuals.
  • Temporary accommodation at Eagle House.
  • A budget advice service.
  • Emergency housing repairs and maintenance.

Meanwhile, in veterans’ news, disabled veteran Tom Weaver has bravely spoken out about his 13-year wait for suitable housing. Despite now living in an adapted flat, it’s only temporary. His story highlights the ongoing struggle for accessible housing, with a Freedom of Information request revealing 139,000 people in Wales are waiting for a suitable home, and around 125 rough sleepers remain across the country.

In response, the Welsh Government is pushing forward the Homelessness and Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill, though progress has been slow. At the UK level, the long-promised abolition of the Vagrancy Act of 1872 is back on the agenda, cautiously welcomed by the third sector. However, concerns remain about its replacement with new laws targeting “professional begging gangs” and trespassing.

Disabled charities are also raising alarms over proposed changes to PIP and benefits, warning that 60,000 disabled households could lose vital support, increasing their risk of homelessness. The shortage of suitable social housing continues to exacerbate the crisis.

In a twist of irony, Colchester Council is turning surplus private student accommodation—left empty due to tightened migration rules—into housing for homeless individuals and families. The move is cost-effective, humane, and may even lead to permanent social housing if successful. As policies shift and funding flows, the homelessness sector remains a space of both challenge and innovation. More to come we’re sure…

Photo by alfa27

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