Homeless Link is running a new £20m grants scheme for voluntary sector organisations to tackle rough sleeping in England.

The Homeless Transition Fund, which is being funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government, will award grants of up to £250,000 to protect and enhance essential services for single homeless people.

The fund has been set up to help support the government’s rough sleeping strategy ‘Vision to end rough sleeping: No Second Night Out nationwide’.

It will run for three years, with £8m being given out in the first funding round.

Chair of Homeless Link, Ann Skinner said:

“Voluntary organisations are better than ever at preventing people from losing their homes and, if they do end up on the streets, supporting them to get back on their feet.

“More people needed help as a result of the recession and cuts to funding for homelessness services have put this progress at risk.

“We hope that the Fund will help to make sure that progress is not lost. We aim to help protect essential services, giving them the breathing space they need to secure their futures. We also want to help charities to continue to move forward, developing new, more effective ways to stop people living on the streets.”

Organisations have until the 30th September to submit applications for the first round of funding.