Over £40,000 has been given to Wiltshire Council to help rough sleepers.

The council has received £47,456 from the government to help to help vulnerable people who were housed during the pandemic.

The cash will be spent on measures that will continue the council’s work with rough sleepers to provide support and accommodation.

With this vital grant, the council will retain various housing units to aid vulnerable people coming off the streets.

Cllr Richard Clewer, cabinet member for housing, said: “We launched our homeless strategy last year before the pandemic and were successful in getting everyone in during the first months of lockdown.

“We are committed to making sure services and accommodation to get people off the streets is available for all those who will engage with us.

“This extra funding is fantastic news and will allow us to help more rough sleepers in the county.”

Additionally, the council has applied for more than £500,000 in funding for further projects to create more safe accommodation for rough sleepers.

This funding would see the council investing in several properties to support rough sleepers.

The total £91.5m funding was announced on September 17 by housing secretary Robert Jenrick to help vulnerable people who were housed during the pandemic.

People can report rough sleepers via the StreetLink app; this will direct council teams to those who need it.