A Bradford homelessness organisation has been awarded almost £200,000 to tackle rough sleeping in the district.

The Horton Housing Association has been awarded more than £199,000 to tackle the issue, which latest figures show has risen by 30 per cent in Bradford in the last year.

The association will employ a number of ‘Change Agents’ over two years who will help adults who are rough sleeping, or in danger of doing so, to access accommodation, advice and support in the city, as well as training and employment.

The money comes as part of a £3.5 million pot from the Homelessness Transition Fund, awarded to 21 projects as part of the Government’s latest plan to ensure no one has to live on the streets, Making Every Contact Count.

Sheila Bamford, Horton Housing Association executive director, said: “At a time of rising homelessness and growing uncertainty around the impact of welfare reform we are delighted to have been awarded a grant to help prevent anyone beginning to live on the streets, returning to the streets or finding it impossible to remove themselves from living on the streets.”

Services director Paul Gartland said Bradford Council’s latest rough sleeper survey revealed the number had risen from 23 in 2010-11 to 30 in 2011-12, a rise of 30 per cent. But he said the actual number was likely to be higher.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps said: “No single voluntary service, government agency, council or Government department can prevent homelessness alone – but working together we can make a big impact.”