Extra beds are set to be offered to people sleeping rough in York this winter following the announcement of emergency Government funding.
The 29 extra beds are set to be funded by York’s £87,000 share of a £10m support package for councils unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
The council is also set to look at boosting staffing to support rough sleepers and it will offer bed and breakfasts where necessary.
City of York Council housing services lead Denis Southall said their emergency provision would ensure that anyone sleeping rough has the option of a warm bed this winter.
It comes as Angela Rayner announced the funding alongside measures which she said would tackle the root causes of homelessness.
Ms Rayner called for an end to sticking plaster measures, with the Government pledging to spend almost £1bn to try and tackle homelessness in 2025-6.
Rough sleeping is approaching record levels while almost 360,000 households across the country approached councils for help with homelessness in the last year.
Research from the Museum of Homelessness found that 155 people died while sleeping rough in England in 2023, 42 per cent more than the previous year.
In York, 22 people were found to be sleeping rough on a single night, according to the latest official figures from June. A total of 64 did so over the course of the month.
Ten new people were found sleeping rough on one night with 25 for the month, 150 per cent and 39 per cent more than the year before respectively.
The nightly total was up by 16 per cent year-on-year while the monthly count was 23 per cent higher.
Of those found sleeping rough, 16 are thought to have been doing so long term.
The council’s head of housing services said accommodation was offered to rough sleepers and it was chosen to best meet their needs.
He added the extra 29 beds being put on with the extra Government funding would come alongside the 120 offered to single homeless people.
The official said: “Our emergency winter provision ensures everyone sleeping rough has the option of a warm place to stay this winter, whatever the weather.
“Our housing navigators and officers at our drop-in sessions offer accommodation and if that’s successful, longer-term accommodation with appropriate support is offered.”
The council has also begun drafting a homelessness strategy which aims to cut the number of people in temporary accommodation and get them into secure housing with support.