Homelessness funding gets £945,000 boost

Efforts to prevent homelessness and support people sleeping rough in a Berkshire borough has been boosted by a £945,000 government grant.

Reading Borough Council has received the money as a top-up to £1.2m it was given in another earlier grant and said it would allow it to provide a more comprehensive package of support.

It is one of a number of local authorities to receive the additional funding, which has been directed to areas with more rough sleepers.

Matt Yeo, the council's lead councillor for housing, said the top-up funding was "hugely welcome".

He added that it would "provide a boost for what is already a comprehensive package of support towards tackling and preventing homelessness".