GRANT funding totalling £150,000 has been secured by WIltshire Council to help rough sleepers get vaccinated and find suitable accommodation.

The local authority is working with partners to use the £150,438 to encourage rough sleepers into permanent accommodation and to promote Covid-19 vaccines and boosters.

A public health bus will be used to help maximise the uptake of vaccines.

Cabinet member for housing, Phil Alford said: “We have a committed team who work with the homeless and rough sleepers 365 days a year to provide support and accommodation.

“We welcome this new funding which will strengthen those efforts to ensure everyone has access to the vaccine and other measures to keep safe against Covid-19.

READ MORE: Critical incident declared at RUH as Covid admissions rise

“There are a myriad of reasons why people become rough sleepers and our rough sleepers team go out on the streets to work with them to find the best solution and a safe place to stay.

“We will now discuss with partners how we can most effectively spend this new funding to ensure that work has the greatest positive impact.”

The council says that it has already used previously secured grants to help prevent the spread of Covid and get rough sleepers into accommodation.