Oxford City Council has pledged over £200,000 in new funding to local charities and support services helping people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping, a response to rising need in the city.
The funding, confirmed this week, builds on the council’s recently launched Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Initiatives Grant Scheme and aims to strengthen vital services, from winter outreach to specialist women’s provision and help with moving into independent tenancies.
Rising challenges in Oxford
Recent local data highlights the scale of need across Oxfordshire:
- In the latest count, more than 41 people were estimated to be sleeping rough in Oxford city on a single night in 2024, compared to just 8 in 2011.
- Council service records show an ongoing rise in homelessness presentations, with hundreds of households seeking support in 2025 alone, often linked to accommodation shortages and cost-of-living pressures.
These figures reflect broader national trends showing increased complexity in homelessness support needs.
Where the new funding will be used
The new grant awards will support a range of services, including:
✔ Specialist provision for women
✔ Accommodation and advice for refugees and migrants
✔ Street outreach and winter support
✔ Health and wellbeing services
✔ Lived-experience forums
✔ Restorative practice training
✔ Help preparing for independent tenancies
Organisations receiving funding include:
- Homeless Oxfordshire
- St Mungo’s
- Asylum Welcome
- The Porch
- The Gatehouse
- Emmaus Oxford
- Edge Housing
- Oxfordshire Homeless Movement
- The Mint House
- Connection Support
Councillor response
Councillor Linda Smith, Executive Member for Housing and Communities, said:
“I’m pleased to confirm the organisations that will receive funding to help us battle homelessness across the city. Our voluntary and community sector partners play a crucial role in preventing homelessness and supporting people away from rough sleeping, and this funding will help them continue delivering vital services for Oxford’s residents.
“We continue to experience significant demand pressure on our temporary accommodation services in Oxford, and these additional funds will help us address the housing and homelessness crisis in the city.”
How residents can help or get support
If you or someone you know is rough sleeping or at risk of homelessness in Oxford:
Contact Oxford City Council’s housing team:
- Call the housing options team on 01865 252000 (during office hours)
- Email housing.options@oxford.gov.uk
For immediate support (rough sleeping):
- Outreach teams operate daily, you can refer someone sleeping rough via the council website or by calling local outreach providers.
- If it’s a life-threatening situation (no shelter, severe weather), call 999 or take the person to A&E.
Local charities that can help directly:
- Homeless Oxfordshire — practical support and advice
- St Mungo’s — specialist rough sleeping support
- The Porch — drop-in services and advocacy
- Oxfordshire Homeless Movement — volunteer-led outreach
Many organisations also accept referrals on behalf of clients; residents can often help just by connecting someone to one of these services.
You can also volunteer at the homeless charities.
Did you know?
The government’s Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant (RSPRG) funds local authorities to boost homelessness prevention, outreach and accommodation pathways. Oxford secured additional RSPRG funding in autumn 2025, enabling the launch of this grant scheme.
Quick links
- Oxford City Council housing options: oxford.gov.uk/housing
- Homeless Oxfordshire: homelessoxfordshire.uk
- St Mungo’s rough sleeping support: mungos.org
