£2m boost to help tackle homelessness in Cambridge

The city council will receive a cash injection of more than £2million next year to tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness and rough sleeping.

The funding, part of a nearly £1billion government package to tackle homelessness, will help Cambridge City Council to continue delivering tailored services to those in need.

Labour MP Daniel Zeichner described it as a “vital resource” to help Cambridge continue its progress toward eradicating homelessness.

“No one should have to sleep rough, and these resources will ensure that critical services remain accessible and effective,” he said.

More than £78.5million, an increase of nearly £17m from this year, is being pumped into councils in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire for homelessness and rough sleeping services in the financial year 2025-26.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner described it as the “largest-ever investment” and said it would help “break the cycle of spiralling homelessness”.

Homelessness, which includes people living in temporary accommodation, is at record levels.

Almost 1,720 homeless families in the East of England are living in B&B or nightly-let accommodation, and the use of this emergency accommodation has increased over the past few years. Many of these places lack basic facilities, leaving parents struggling to cook healthy meals for their children while councils bear the mounting financial strain.

A lack of investment in preventative services in the East of England has also resulted in far too

many homeless people living in temporary accommodation for far too long, with a record number of more than 8,900 households, including nearly 11,500 children, across the region.

The council will receive £1.37 million through the Homelessness Prevention Grant and £750,000 under the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant.

Council leader Cllr Mike Davey (Lab, Petersfield) said: “This significant investment reflects the ongoing commitment of Cambridge City Council to tackling homelessness and rough sleeping in our community. We will use this funding to build on our successes, reduce family placements in unsuitable accommodations, and work collaboratively with our partners to deliver lasting solutions.”

Cllr Gerri Bird, the executive councillor for housing, said: “Every individual deserves a safe place to call home. This funding allows us to continue delivering life-changing services that not only address homelessness but prevent it from happening in the first place. I’m particularly proud of our council’s efforts to ensure that the most vulnerable are prioritised.”

The council has begun planning for the use of these funds and will work with stakeholders to ensure the money delivers measurable results.

Homelessness minister Rushanara Ali said: “We have inherited the worst housing crisis in living memory that has left over 5,400 families in the East of England trapped in temporary accommodation with no end in sight.”