AN £11.4 million contract to provide accommodation to Bradford’s homeless and rough sleepers has gone out to tender.

Bradford Council is looking for a provider for this statutory homeless service – and the contract is to provide the service from March 2025 to March 2028.

The invitation to tender went live last month, and closes on Monday.

The value of the contract is £11,388,000.

The tender document says: “The aim of the services will be to provide emergency and short term statutory temporary accommodation with resettlement floating support to prevent the most vulnerable people from experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping.

“This includes individuals or families who are legally homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless within 56 days.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “Reducing homelessness is a key priority for Bradford Council all year round, and part of our provision is offering temporary accommodation to those who meet the criteria under the Homelessness Reduction Act.

“The Council’s Statutory Temporary Accommodation Contracts are due to end in March 2025 and the tender process is now underway to ensure we deliver the service beyond that.

“Like the rest of the UK, we have seen a significant increase in service demand and numbers in temporary accommodation are at their highest levels. We are currently tendering to make sure we deliver the most cost-effective provision that offers high levels of support to those who need it.”