Ealing Council has secured nearly £6m from government funding to help provide support to rough sleepers with addiction problems as well as other residents who have drug and alcohol misuse problems.
The three-year funding will see around £2m for rough sleepers support and £4m for other residents in the Borough with misuse problems.
Councillor Aysha Raza, the council’s cabinet member for tackling inequality, said: “This investment will make a long-term, meaningful change. Addiction is a cruel disease that, unfortunately, affects a significant number of people in the borough. Services are dealing with excessive caseloads, particularly since COVID-19, and our hope is that this brings some much-needed reprieve to staff and hope for service users.”
The Council says the money will help support people better as it has seen an increase in clients needing help since the pandemic in 2020.
It says the funding will allow it to continue working with charities including St Mungo’s to support rough sleepers who are addicts and also local service provider Ealing RISE as well as developing new forms of support.
Councillor Raza added: “It’s sad to see those who are struggling, especially those who want to seek help but have to wait for any length of time. Now, we can take steps to make a difference for them.”
Part of the funding will also be used to support the Council’s reinstated drug and alcohol criminal justice team and the work done to reduce drug-related deaths.
