More than 20 vulnerable Worthing residents face homelessness after hotel accommodation ends

The Chatsworth Hotel, in The Steyne, has accommodated around 24 homeless people since lockdown began, but has been told its insurance no longer covers supporting rough sleepers with hotels set to reopen from July 4.

Its homeless guests have been handed a notice saying they must vacate the premises by Thursday (June 25).

Shortly before lockdown was announced in March, the Government unveiled a £3.2million fund for local authorities to house rough sleepers during the pandemic.

Adur and Worthing councils worked with local hotels and landlords to provide accommodation, but a spokesman has revealed the Government funding fell well short of what was required, with the councils forced to make up the difference out of its own budget.

"While the government lockdown directive insisted everyone was found a place to stay, funding for the scheme was inadequate covering just three days of accommodation and forcing the council to spend an extra £20,000 a week for three months," the spokesman said.

The councils now face a race against time to rehouse the previously rehomed homeless people before they are forced back on to the streets.