The work to tackle rough sleeping in Coventry has been highlighted at a national - and first ever - Rough Sleepers Summit held in Downing Street yesterday.
Urgent action is already under way in the city following the announcement of additional national government funding. The summit included a reference to the opening of an 18-bed unit in Coventry, which includes wraparound support.
Cllr Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We welcome this funding and have acted quickly to set up accommodation.
“Our outreach team work five days a week out on the streets and are there to offer people a route out of homelessness. It’s not only important that we can signpost people into accommodation but also to offer other support.
“The team find anywhere between five and 20 people on any given morning and around one third are found only once.
“The accommodation offers people the chance for stability and support.”
Coventry City Council received £815k made available by government to offer everyone a route off the street by Christmas.
The funding will also help prevent people from reaching the streets in the first place.
Wider homelessness prevention
In 2025/26 the Council working with partner agencies prevented or relieved homelessness for 1,255 households, helping residents either remain in their current accommodation or secure alternative housing.
The Local Authority has also been very successful in reducing the number of households living in temporary accommodation whilst also ensuring no families with dependent children are placed in Bed and Breakfast type accommodation, since September 2024.
Data from 28 November 2025 showed that 1,189 families and single people were in temporary accommodation in Coventry. This figure dropped to 882 families and single people in temporary accommodation earlier this month, showing a reduction of 307 households.