Prime Minister Boris Johnson has committed millions of pounds worth of funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the borough.

Barnet Council is among 300 councils that will receive a share of £260 million of funding from the Government to support those who are homeless.

The borough will receive a £5.1 million share of the money, which will empower the council to provide the best services for local needs.

Following the investment, Homelessness Minister Luke Hall said: “It is not right that there are people in Barnet who do not have a safe and secure place to live – some having to rely on the goodwill of friends for a roof over their head, or at worst face a night on the streets.

“This funding will give Barnet Council the freedom to provide the services which work for local people in their areas and tackle the often complex issues which lead to homelessness need specialist support.

“This government will ensure those at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping are supported and have somewhere safe to live.”

Councils across the country can use the funding to employ specialists to provide practical advice to vulnerable people to help ensure they are meeting their rent payments, as well as helping them to find long-term stable accommodation.

While on a visit to a rough sleeping shelter in London, Mr Johnson said the Government “will work tirelessly” to bring homelessness to an end.

He said: “It cannot be right in the 21st century that people are homeless or having to sleep on our streets.

“This new funding is going to help councils provide better support to homeless people, and importantly, prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.

“But we have got to do even more, and we’re committed to expanding rough sleeping and homelessness programmes and ensuring more integrated working between our local health and housing services.”

Of the money £260 million announced, the first £200 million comes from the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant, introduced in 2017, to lead to a change in the way councils were providing support to those at risk of homelessness.

The remaining funding, the £63 million Homelessness Reduction Grant, will go to councils to fulfil their duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act, which came into force last year, to help homeless households into accommodation.