West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed extra funding being offered to local councils to help rough sleepers to rebuild their lives. The Government has allocated more than £200,000 to help local councils to provide vulnerable people across Worcestershire with the specialist support they need. The money will be used to help rough sleepers into accommodation, increasing existing accommodation and providing new temporary accommodation, including night shelters and hostel spaces. Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils have already appointed specialist staff to help people at risk from becoming homeless and the councils led a summit last month on local issues. Harriett commented: “I offered my support to my two District Councils in January when they took specific actions to focus on the issue of local homelessness and rough sleeping and I wrote to the Communities Secretary asking for financial support. “I am delighted to see these funds allocated to our local councils, which is part of a £46 million programme to reduce the numbers of people who are without permanent accommodation. “I know from my own casework that there are often complex reasons why people end up sleeping rough and having spoken to local council officers, healthcare experts and the police, everyone agrees that a multi-agency approach is important to help these people. “I welcome the national ambition to reduce the numbers of rough sleepers and repeat my support for our local councils as they step up their efforts to help some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”