Doncaster receives £450k Government grant as part of Prime Minister's no rough sleepers by Christmas ambition

Andy Burnham’s ambition to offer every rough sleeper the chance to get off the streets by Christmas 2026 has seen more than £450,000 of funding handed to Doncaster.

The Prime Minister has made addressing rough sleeping a key goal of his premiership since arriving in Number 10 in the Summer, with councils across the country receiving an additional £442million as part of the Rough Sleeping Programme Winter Package.

As part of the funding boost, the City of Doncaster Council has received £453,990, with Mayor Ros Jones’ Labour cabinet voting to accept the funding, handed out via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Councillor Glyn Jones, the deputy mayor of Doncaster, said: “The Government expectation is clear, with the Prime Minister stating that by Christmas, everyone sleeping rough should be offered a route off the streets and by March everyone should have a route to sustainable accommodation.

“Rough sleeping remains a significant and complex issue in Doncaster and across the country. We know that people’s circumstances vary and for some, a route off the street will require unique and sustained support.”

Doncaster’s proposed to deliver the Government’s Christmas aims by building on existing ‘severe weather and outreach arrangements’ for local rough sleepers.

According to a recent report, each rough sleeper in the local cohort will receive ‘an individual plan and an appropriate route off the street’.

The council will also offer ‘targeted work with long-term rough sleepers’, with the report stating 17 have been identified, as well as specialist mental health support.

Coun Jones said people would be offered ‘not just somewhere to go, but a realistic route into accommodation’.