Rising homelessness in Preston to be tackled with £500,000 funding increase

Homelessness prevention in Preston is receiving a half-a-million pound boost from the government.

Preston City Council is one of many councils across the country to receive a funding increase as the number of rough sleepers continues to rise.

Lancashire has consistently seen above average rates of homelessness with Preston – as an administrative capital and having a major railway station – seeing a sharp increase in recent years.

New figures are expected later this year as the annual rough sleeper count takes place but charities in the city warn it often doesn’t truly represent the situation on the ground due to the way the figures are recorded.

What’s planned?

The city council say they want to use the money to ‘reduce and prevent rough sleeping’ and try to stabilise the rising number of people who are homeless.

‘Targeted support’ is planned to try and transition people from aslyum seeker accommodation with ‘early intervention’ to stop them becoming homeless.

The funding is coming in ahead of the winter months with the city council saying they want to ensure ‘no one is left without a roof during the colder months’.

Members of the city's homelessness outreach team Pic: Preston City Council — Members of the city’s homelessness outreach team Pic: Preston City Council

Bespoke support is also being planned for individuals when they leave prison who may be at risk of rough sleeping.

The city council has in the past 12 months begun to operate more homelessness services in-house, such as opening a new night shelter on the Flag Market, but the new funding includes a pledge to work with other organisations in Preston.

A fifth of the additional funding pot is being set aside for partners who work to help the homeless in the city to apply to.

Cabinet member for communities, social justice and the nighttime economy at the Labour-run council, councillor Peter Kelly, said: “Preston City Council welcome this funding, which will enable us to work more closely and collaboratively with stakeholders across the city. By strengthening our partnerships, we can deliver critical services, support, and access to accommodation more effectively for households facing difficult circumstances.”

“Everyone in Preston deserves a safe place to call home. While I’m extremely proud of the level of support available in our city, the fact that people are still finding themselves without a roof over their head means there is more work to be done.”

“This funding brings us a step closer to making our commitment to ending homelessness a reality.”

Homeless deaths increasing

The Foxton, based in Avenham and supporting the city’s homeless since the late 1960s, welcomed the additional funding award and commitment from the city council to work with partners.

Chief executive Cath Coffey said: “We’re delighted that Preston City Council has secured additional funding to support people experiencing homelessness in our city. At Foxton, we continue to see rising demand for our services, and we’re encouraged that this funding will help a collaboration of agencies in Preston respond to the complex and often unseen challenges of homelessness and rough sleeping.

“The recent announcement by the Museum of Homelessness, reporting a conservative figure of 1,611 homeless deaths in the past year, a 9 per cent increase on the previous year, is a stark reminder that more must be done to prevent people from losing their lives to the streets. This new funding will help save lives and strengthen the support available for those who need it most here in Preston.

“Collaboration is crucial and our upcoming Big Sleep Out 3, taking place on March 27 2026, is an example, where a range of partners from different fields, will come together to help transform the lives of the hidden homeless, particularly women and girls.”

Fellow charity Emmaus Preston, who recently opened one of the UK’s largest charity stores in the Fishergate Shopping Centre, welcomed the funding.

City’s MP on the funding award

Preston’s MP Sir Mark Hendrick said he felt the government was ‘getting back on track’ in giving councils the resources to tackle homelessness.

And he underlined how he saw the funding as being crucial for the council to work alongside other organisations in the city to tackle homelessness.

He told Blog Preston: “The Government is providing councils with an £84 million cash boost to help prevent homelessness and support families this winter. Immediate help for children and families in temporary accommodation is at heart of this funding.

“As winter approaches and temperatures plummet, more people are likely to face the prospect of sleeping on cold streets and they urgently need support.

“The scourge of homelessness and rough-sleeping increased in our area under the last Conservative Government. I know from speaking with homelessness charities in Preston, that tackling this issue is a priority. I am pleased this Labour Government is taking action and providing the resources needed to address this crisis in our City.

“This funding will support councils with the highest pressures to deliver a range of services to prevent and reduce homelessness and rough sleeping. This includes strengthening partnerships and services with voluntary, community, and faith sector organisations, supporting children experiencing homelessness and funding evidence-based drug and alcohol treatment for vulnerable individuals.

“This is in addition to the first steps the Government have already taken to getting back on track to ending homelessness, including making over £1 billion investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services this year (2025/26).

“The funding also goes alongside wider support to help for families trapped in temporary accommodation, to drive up housing standards and build more social and affordable homes.

“Whilst this is very welcome news for Preston and demonstrates that this Labour Government is seriously committed to tackling homelessness, I urge Preston City Council to work closely with homeless charities in Preston, such as the Foxton Centre, who are at the forefront of dealing with people who find themselves homeless, for whatever reason.”

How you can help

Blog Preston has teamed up with the Foxton, Preston North End Community and Education Trust and Veolia to bring the Big PNE Sleep Out back to Deepdale again. Running in 2019 and 2023 it has helped raise nearly £150,000 to tackle homelessness in the city with hundreds of people sleeping out at the stadium. Taking place on Friday 27 March 2026 registration is open with the aim of raising £100,000 to help tackle the rise in female homelessness in the city.

Anyone who is worried about someone sleeping rough or at risk of becoming homeless can make a referral via the city council website which will go to the council’s outreach team.

Anyone who is at immediate risk of homelessness or sleeping rough can contact the council’s housing advice team via the website or calling 01772906412

Anyone without internet access can visit the Town Hall between 10am-4pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 10am-3pm on Tuesdays.