Sheffield City Council has signed off £1.44m to get people sleeping rough into a warm room before Christmas. Funding beyond this winter has not been confirmed.

The council’s housing policy committee unanimously approved the money on 22 October. It is the first year of the government’s three-year Rough Sleeping Programme and comes through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

The aim is to offer as many people sleeping rough as possible a route off the streets by Christmas.

Because the beds are needed fast, most will be emergency accommodation such as B&Bs. Council papers say each person will get a private room, a bed and somewhere to go during the day, not just an overnight shelter.

Council figures show rough sleeping in the city fell from 52 people in 2024 to 38 in 2025. The number of people sleeping rough long-term almost halved, from 120 in April 2024 to 64 this August.

But demand for help is rising. The council owed a homelessness duty to 3,643 households last year, up from 3,402. The most common reasons were being asked to leave by family or friends, fleeing domestic abuse, losing asylum accommodation and losing a private rented home.

Committee chair Councillor Douglas Johnson told The Star the Christmas target matters less than long-term support, because rough sleeping is “an all year round issue.”

Sarah Batty, chief executive of Ben’s Centre said that people on the streets are only the most visible part of the problem.

The council works with the Cathedral Archer Project, Framework and Ben’s Centre to reach people sleeping rough.

Worried about someone sleeping rough? Alert local outreach teams through StreetLink, online or on its app. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.