Council gets £11.8m grant to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping

Wigan Council has been awarded nearly £12m of government funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping across the borough over the next three years.

This funding will be put towards initiatives to reduce homelessness and rough sleeping, support those affected by domestic abuse who are at risk of homelessness and manage the local impact of the Renters Right’s Act.

The grant will increase access to more housing options for people by making best use of existing housing stock, through driving up standards, bringing empty homes into use, and supporting access to private rented accommodation – which will further enable the development of more supported and wider housing options through the council and partners working together to tackle homelessness.

There will also be a focus on enforcing against the minority of rogue landlords who provide poor quality housing to their tenants.

Councillor Susan Gambles, cabinet member for housing and welfare, and chair of Wigan Borough Homelessness Partnership Board, said: “This grant will enable us to continue to support people across Wigan Borough where their basic human right of having a safe and stable home remains out of reach, for a variety of reasons.

“Homelessness is not just rough sleeping, there are numerous factors which can affect individuals and families, including financial difficulties, the cost-of-living crisis, mental health, addiction, domestic abuse or a lack of affordable housing.

“Through our Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030, we are committed to preventing homelessness, increasing affordable housing provision and giving people support.

“This funding will enable us to support those who are at most risk in our borough.”

The Homelessness, Rough Sleeping, Domestic Abuse Grant, funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, will see £11,881,047 invested across these the three key areas in the borough until 2029.

The council is part of a wider Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) partnership to deliver “A Bed Every Night,” ensuring safe accommodation and personalised key‑worker support is on hand for anyone who is sleeping rough or at imminent risk of sleeping rough.

“This grant will allow us to target all of these factors, increase our access to affordable, safe and secure accommodation and help people improve their lives,” added Councillor Gambles.

“It should be everyone’s business to end homelessness. We all need to play a part, and with the right support, working alongside our voluntary and community partners, we can give people a route out of homelessness.”

Read the strategy in full.