MP Lucy Frazer believes that more than £670,000 of government funding will help East Cambridgeshire “deliver the services that prevent and tackle homelessness”. 

The funding is part of a £654 million Homelessness Prevention Grant scheme allocated to local authorities in England for 2023-24 and 2024-25. 

In East Cambridgeshire for 2023-24, £333,106 has been provided by the government as part of the scheme, with £337,359 confirmed for the following 12 months. 

Ms Frazer, MP for South East Cambridgeshire, said the funding “will support our local authorities to deliver the services that prevent and tackle homelessness. 

“[This will offer] financial support for people to find a new home, providing temporary accommodation, working with landlords to prevent evictions or other measures to prevent homelessness.” 

Ely Standard: MP Lucy Frazer said the government funding will help local authorities, such as councils, help provide services that tackle homelessness in East Cambridgeshire.MP Lucy Frazer said the government funding will help local authorities, such as councils, help provide services that tackle homelessness in East Cambridgeshire. (Image: Daniel Mason)

Between 2022 and this year, East Cambridgeshire received nearly £10,000 less from the Homelessness Prevention Grant compared to the 2023-24 allocation, winning £323,632 for the last 12 months. 

From the grant, £24m will be put forward for councils to support domestic abuse victims.  

The government say this aims to ensure “no one has to stay with their abuser for fear of not having a roof over their head.” 

For 2022-23, £5,660 was allocated for East Cambridgeshire to help homeless domestic abuse victims. 

The £654m grant scheme will also be used to help individuals at risk of becoming homeless pay deposits for new homes and mediate with landlords to avoid evictions. 

“Rough sleeping levels in the UK were 49 per cent lower in 2021 than the peak in 2017,” added Ms Frazer.  

“Over half a million households have been supported to secure accommodation since the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act.” 

Figures from homelessness charity Shelter found that last year, one in 1,993 people in East Cambridgeshire were classed as homeless, the fourth lowest for the East of England. 

Peterborough ranked highest out of the Cambridgeshire districts and sixth in the region according to the report, with a homelessness rate of one in 227 people. 

Felicity Buchan MP, minister for housing and homelessness, said: “Everyone should have a safe and secure home.  

“This government is determined to prevent homelessness and to get vulnerable families and individuals the support they need.” 

East Cambridgeshire District Council has been approached for comment.