HOMES are set to be provided for those in need after a successful bid for almost £1m worth of funding.

Test Valley Borough Council has been granted the funds after a successful bid in partnership with charity Two Saints and housing providers, Vivid and Aster.

The money is now expected to be used to increase opportunities for those at risk of rough sleeping with a total of ten properties across Test Valley set to be purchased.

This comes after the council was able to provide temporary accommodation to the few individuals sleeping on the streets along with several people who were otherwise living in unsustainable shared housing arrangements during the national lockdown in spring last year.

Now, with these extra properties available through the funding which totals at £913,125, longer-term housing can be offered.

The money has been granted by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme.

Portfolio holder for housing and environmental health, councillor Phil Bundy, said: “During the pandemic, we worked exceptionally hard to understand and support those who wanted to come in from the streets, and to work with other people with complex needs who were otherwise unsuitably housed.

“Securing temporary accommodation was a big step, but this new grant award is a huge milestone and will complement our existing investment in frontline services.

“Our thanks go to Vivid, Aster and Two Saints for their work alongside us on this bid, and the effort that will now go in to changing lives for good. We are always committed to doing everything we can to help those who need it. Providing ten further properties in the borough for people at risk of, or who may be experiencing homelessness, helps us as we move closer to our aim to end rough sleeping and provide suitable accommodation solutions for our most vulnerable residents.”