Huppert welcomes investment to help city's homeless young people

The money is being paid to Cambridge City Council which will work in partnership with the other local authorities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to make sure young people with the greatest need are prioritised for help.

Under the Fair Chance Fund, the council will receive £75,981 this year and a further £126,636 has been provisionally awarded for next year subject to Treasury approval.

The fund is designed to pay for sustained housing, employment and educational support for homeless 18 to 24 year olds with investors putting in money through social impact bonds.

Julian said: “In an ideal world, all young people would have a supportive family and a good home life, but that’s not the reality for some. They find themselves on the street with no prospects and it’s difficult to find a way through that.

“This fund will go some way to making sure homeless young people get the help they need to turn their lives around. It could give them a chance to find accommodation, gain qualifications and move into work.

“And it brings long-term benefits for the taxpayer and our county generally because homelessness can lead to crime, alcohol and drug dependency and poor health. Through this fund we have the opportunity to identify those most in need and offer them much-needed support.”

The funding for Cambridgeshire is part of a £23 million investment by the government to tackle homelessness. The Fair Chance Fund is being set up with £15 million to give 1,600 homeless young people the chance to get their lives back on track and £8 million is being invested in a Help for Single Homeless Fund to support around 22,000 people.

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