WARRINGTON was ‘ahead of the game’ in providing accommodation to the homeless, says a cabinet member.

A report on the tender for the provision of the vital services to support people at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping came before the cabinet during its virtual meeting on Monday.

It advised of the outcome of the tender evaluation exercise and the proposed award of a contract for the delivery of services to individuals, families or young people at risk of homelessness or rough sleeping.

Warrington Borough Council currently commissions support for individuals, families or young people who are at risk of homelessness or rough sleeping.

Homelessness service contracts and funding associated with the tender are currently delivered by The Salvation Army, with the provision of accommodation and support for single homeless adults at James Lee House, Your Housing Group, with the provision of accommodation and support for young people at risk of homelessness at Verve Place and Your Housing Group, with the provision of floating support for vulnerable adults – the Vulnerable Tenants Support Service.

The tender specified that a single provider, prime provider or consortium of organisations would be required to deliver the services detailed in the specification and within the identified allocated maximum funding.

Travelodge hotel in the town centre, on Kendrick Street, housed the homeless and protected them from coronavirus earlier in the pandemic after the town secured funding for the initiative.

Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, cabinet member for housing, public health and wellbeing, highlighted the scheme on Monday.

She said: “That was a game changer for some people, it enabled them to really readdress where they were in their own private rooms and get the help they needed and we were supported there with our partnership with Room at the Inn.

“But we knew that service would end and we were ahead of the game really in making sure that we had accommodation for when the Travelodge closed.

“I think other areas really struggled when their funding for hotel accommodation came to an end but we were ready with Museum Street, with another 21 bedrooms for homeless people and we were able to get people settled in there. So it’s a real success story.

“As I’ve said, one rough sleeper is one too many and last year in November time we had the rough sleeper count, which is the annual count, we had one rough sleeper.

“But I was very pleased to report earlier this year, and I can confirm this is still the case, that we have no rough sleepers in the town.

“So all the work that we have done, it’s a tremendous achievement, but even as I say that we know that going forward there will be more challenges and we have to be ready for them and we will be ready for them because of our commitment to these services.”

The cabinet approved the award of a contract for the provision of support services and supported housing to the winning bidder.

Members approved for the contract to be awarded for five years with the option to extend for two periods of one year, up to seven years in total, running from July 2021 to June 2026, with the option to extend to June 2028.