Rough sleepers can be helped to get off the streets during freezing weather this Christmas and for the rest of the winter using money from the last chunk of a financial hardship grant.

Some £60,000 extra has been put towards accommodation for rough sleepers as part of a Bracknell Forest Council plan to help people struggling on low cash.

The council said it works all year round to help rough sleepers get off the streets, and that the extra cash will help provide emergency accommodation during severe weather.

Executive director for people Grainne Siggins said: “The council works with several partner agencies all year round, carrying out bi-weekly outreach to offer regular support to rough sleepers.

“Support will continue to be provided to anyone sleeping rough in the borough over the winter period. The additional funding will help the team provide emergency accommodation when needed, giving the outreach team and partners an opportunity to find people longer term accommodation.”

She added: “The council’s severe weather emergency provision is implemented when the forecasted temperature is below freezing for three consecutive nights, ensuring anyone known to be sleeping rough is accommodated during this period.”

She added: ““Money from public health, central government grants and council funds all contribute towards accommodation for rough sleepers and helps them into settled accommodation, as part of the wider support on offer from our partners.”

“Support services are also provided by Pilgrim Hearts all year round, including drop-ins with access to health services, including a GP, support services including New Hope drug and alcohol team, as well as our own single persons and rough sleeping team.”

The cash is part of the last chunk of a government grant called the contain outbreak management fund intended to help councils tackle the pandemic and its after-affects.

Council leaders agreed earlier this month to use the remaining £760,000 – which has to be spent by March 2024 – to help people hit hardest by the pandemic.

Some £95,000 of the money will also go towards improving housing for people with long term health problems, and £90,000 towards combatting loneliness.

The council’s executive committee – its leading group of councillors – agreed the spending as part of its financial hardship action plan earlier this month. But they have raised fears for the future if more government grants are not announced next year.

Councillors voted to ask the government urgently for more funding, at a meeting on November 29. They warned that the council alone doesn’t have enough money to replace make up for previous government grants, but that ‘help is still urgently needed.’