More than 20 rough sleepers in Swindon will be found permanent housing if a government promise is fulfilled.

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick said a total of 3,300 homes across the UK would be found – or at least funded – for people who have been housed by local authorities under the Everybody In programme set up for the coronavirus lockdown

In announcing the initiative Mr Jenrick said: “This government wants to end rough sleeping for good, and we now have a real opportunity to deliver on this moral mission.”

“This will be completely transformative and changes the lives of thousands of rough sleepers for the better.”

In Swindon 22 rough sleepers were given emergency accommodation at the end of March.

A spokesman for the borough council said: “We very much welcome this announcement by the covernment and we will be liaising with the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand Swindon’s share of the funding.

“During the current lockdown period we have managed to get 22 rough sleepers off the streets and into safe hotel accommodation where our outreach team have continued to engage with them with the aim of getting them into permanent housing.

“Any additional government funding will be used to continue this work and to help those most in need.”

And while he welcomed the announcement, the Conservative council leader David Renard said local authorities need more powers to keep and use the money they raise.

Speaking in his role with the Local Government Association, Coun Renard said: “It has been a monumental effort by councils to get the overwhelming majority of rough sleepers and homeless people off the streets. Bringing forward the funding announced in the Budget for rough sleeping accommodation and the additional resources for specialist support will help councils to protect their most vulnerable residents as we look beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

“Councils want to take this opportunity to change the lives of our most vulnerable residents and stand ready to work with government on a national plan to move people into safe, long-term housing with access to wider support they might need for substance dependency and help with benefits, skills and getting work.

“Following the initial surge in demand for accommodation, councils are also now experiencing an urgent need for more accommodation as people, including young people, continue to face homelessness and rough sleeping.

“While the funding for councils to support rough sleepers is positive, we still need clarity from government on what additional practical support will be available to councils to help them move people out of hotels and temporary accommodation and into housing.

“Allowing councils to be able to keep 100 per cent of receipts from Right to Buy sales and extending the deadline to spend the money to at least five years, will allow councils to get on with the job of building the new homes that people in their areas desperately need.”