Local MPs Ben Everitt and Iain Stewart have secured more than £640,000 extra funding from the Conservative Government to help tackle homelessness in Milton Keynes.
The number of rough sleepers in Milton Keynes remained under 10 from 2010-2014, but when Labour took control of the council in 2014 rough sleeping skyrocketed with almost 50 people on the streets at one count in 2017, leading MK to be dubbed 'tent city'.
Since then the local MPs have fought hard for more investment to reduce the number of people living on the streets in Milton Keynes and Government funding has now passed £23 million since 2019, with statistics showing the number of rough sleepers has fallen.
This latest investment of £642,000 is a top-up to the £2,165,337 Milton Keynes City Council was already receiving from the Government in 2024-25 through the Homelessness Prevention Grant.
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, said: "Just one person living on the streets is one too many and that's why I have been fighting so hard for more funding from the Government to tackle an issue so close to my heart.
"It's inspiring meeting some of our incredible local charities like the MK YMCA and the Bus Shelter MK to see first-hand how their work impacts the lives of so many people across Milton Keynes, but there I know there is lots more to be done and that's why I've been listening to their concerns and suggestions and feeding them back to Ministers.
"I'm delighted we've managed to secure this boost in funding which will help to make a difference here in Milton Keynes."
Iain Stewart, the MP for Milton Keynes South, commented: “The additional £642,000 of funding from the Conservative Government to bolster efforts to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness in Milton Keynes is brilliant news.
“I am pleased that this issue is a priority for the Conservative Party and it builds on the recent conversations I had with the Bus Shelter MK and Homeless Link.”
Felicity Buchan, Minister for Housing and Homelessness, added: “We are working alongside councils and charities to do all we can to help rough sleepers off the streets and to prevent homelessness.
“Today’s announcement brings the total funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping to an unprecedented £2.4 billion, meaning we can help thousands of the most vulnerable people and give them the support they need to rebuild their lives.”
