East Midlands Combined County Authority announces joined-up approach to tackling homelessness in the region

A new initiative backed by £100,000 of government funding is to create a joined-up approach to tackling homelessness in the East Midlands.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has announced the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, which is a new approach to support local authorities in combating homelessness and rough-sleeping.

The initiative builds on progress already happening in Nottinghamshire and aims to bring a consistent and effective strategy across the East Midlands — in both cities and rural communities.

By improving coordination and services, the EMCCA aims to ensure that people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness receive better, faster, and more consistent support.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “Homelessness is a challenge shared by all our communities, and those communities want regional government to support local government in overcoming it. This investment will help us to bring services together, share data and best practice, and design a more inclusive and effective system across the East Midlands. By listening to people with lived experience and working in true partnership, we can build a future where everyone has a safe place to call home.”

As part of the project, a full review will look at how people currently access help, what services are available, and where there are gaps or overlaps to form a ‘blueprint’ for a single, integrated homelessness pathway.

The project will also explore how different organisations — such as councils, health services, social care, justice, and charities — can share information more effectively.

At present, each service often collects and stores information separately and it is believed that secure, region-wide data sharing will reduce duplication, track support more easily, and improve outcomes for people in need.

Oversight will be provided by a steering group made up of representatives from councils, health, justice, safeguarding, and the voluntary sector, and people with lived experience of homelessness will play a central role in shaping the work and guiding decisions.

The Homelessness Minister, Alison McGovern, said: “You can’t have a decent life without a decent home. Whether it’s rough sleeping or sofa surfing or, at its worst, children stuck in B and Bs, homelessness in the UK has been too high for too long. This has to stop. Through our Plan for Change, the UK will build homes and get help to those who need it to put a roof over their head.”

The project will run from November 2025, and its findings are aimed to help provide the tools to deliver a more coordinated, preventative, and person-centred response to homelessness across the East Midlands.