Coventry votes to try to abolish rough sleeping by 2022

[dutchman]

Plans to eradicate street homelessness in Coventry by 2022 have been approved by councillors


Stock photo

The number of rough sleepers in the city is a growing problem, with official figures showing a 316% rise from six in 2014 to 25 in 2018.

The pledge has been included in a new Rough Sleeping Strategy 2019-24, which was approved by the city council’s cabinet on Tuesday.

Cabinet member for housing and communities Tariq Khan said: “Clearly this will be a challenge but it is absolutely right to do that.

“I am pleased to be presenting such an ambitious agenda to cabinet.”

The authority already works with local agencies to support rough sleepers, but part of the latest plans is for a public donation system to be set up.

Residents can donate money which homelessness organisations can apply for on behalf of rough sleepers.