A £100 MILLION plan to help end rough sleeping has been welcomed by Hampshire civic leaders.

The new scheme will offer cash for mental health and addiction support as well as help with accommodation.

Westminster chiefs say it will focus on stopping people becoming homeless in the first place, with “swift, targeted support” to get those in crisis off the streets and into long-term housing.

The strategy includes £50 million for homes outside London for people ready to move on from hostels or refuges and £30 million for mental health support for rough sleepers.

However, it is currently unclear how much Hampshire will receive.

The strategy has also been welcomed by homelessness charities, who said it was a significant step towards meeting the Conservative manifesto commitment to eliminate it by 2027.

Hampshire County Council bosses want to slash funding, by cutting support for homeless people with “less critical” needs. It says it can save £1.8m with the changes, but claimed it would continue to spend £2.4m to help those most in need.

Liz Fairhurst, social care and health boss, said: “We recognise how vital the right help is, and work closely with district councils, who have a statutory duty to ‘prevent and relieve’ homelessness. We are having to look at how we continue to support the most vulnerable within a reduced budget.

“Any additional help from government in this area can only be a good thing.”