Derbyshire County Council invests £80,000 to support homeless people across the county

The investment will be used to provide two support workers for the No Second Night Out scheme – a national initiative launched in 2011 which called on all councils to tackle homelessness.

According to meeting papers published by Derbyshire County Council this week, there are currently 37 rough sleepers in the Derbyshire area.

While Derbyshire Homeless Officers Group (DHOG) had previously been working with Derby City Mission to provide church rooms for communal sleeping in Chesterfield and Derby, this is not currently available due to social distancing measures.

The Mount Cook Adventure Centre in Middleton, near Wirksworth, is now being used to host Derbyshire’s rough sleepers over the winter – from December 1 2020 to February 28, 2021.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said: “We are pleased to be able to support the No Second Night Out initiative.

“While homelessness is primarily a district and borough council responsibility, during these unprecedented times, it is important that we all work together.

“Homelessness is a complex issue and getting people into safe accommodation is vital but is just part of the process.

“Offering additional support and signposting to long term help is also important in ensuring that people are able to stay safe permanently.”

District and borough councils across Derbyshire are working in partnership with the YMCA to provide 36 single room beds, with an option to increase to 46, using pod accommodation on the Mount Cook site.

The extra capacity will allow for out-of-hours emergency homelessness provision, while maintaining social distancing and self-isolation regulations.

Derbyshire County Council are providing the £82,000 worth of funding to afford two on-site support workers at the site, while volunteers are currently unable to provide help due

to COVID-19 restrictions.

Support workers will be used to help link residents who are need of housing with appropriate support services in areas such as healthcare, drugs and alcohol support –alongside mental health and well-being advice, in an attempt to move them into more long term, secure accommodation.

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