A Bath homelessness charity says vital funding at the start of the coronavirus pandemic changed and saved lives.

With the country heading into lockdown, street homeless people with few options to self isolate safely were quickly identified as one of the most vulnerable groups.

After a Government directive to get "everyone in", 40 bed spaces in Bath and North East Somerset were rapidly found, furnished and brought into use.

One of the properties was a council-owned building in London Road that is now set to undergo a £1million revamp to help former rough sleepers turn their lives around.

Reflecting on the "everyone in" initiative, Julian House operations director Roanne Wootten said: "The number of people sleeping rough has been dramatically reduced as a result of this commitment.

"Lives have not only been changed for the better. In some cases they have been saved."

She added: "The success of this initiative in the area is mainly a result of excellent partnership working between Bath and North East Somerset Council and the agencies that make up the local homelessness partnership.

"This was joined up working at its best. Those agencies include public health, Curo, DHI, SDAS, the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership, Homegroup, the Department of Work and Pensions, the police and Genesis Trust – chaired by Julian House."

Graham Sabourn, the council's head of housing, told councillors this week: "One of our challenges is often getting rough sleepers to take up accommodation. Often there's resistance to take up accommodation.

"The drive of the pandemic pushed the vast majority into accommodation. Some of the success stories have been great. There were a couple in a very toxic relationship, domestic abuse going on, she felt confident enough to end that relationship. There's been other rough sleepers who have come off drugs and gone onto scripts.

"For the majority it's been really positive. We've had quite a turnover of individuals who we've been able to move onto permanent accommodation or at least more permanent accommodation.

"Trying to build on the positive work, there's been a number of government funding initiatives.

"We bid for some funding. We were 100 per cent successful on that. It allows us to pay for some support and provide up to 28 units of supported accommodation for former rough sleepers. It's really good news."

The council secured some £2.1million. As well as revamping the property in London Road, it is set to buy two four-bedroom houses to accommodate former rough sleepers.

Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for housing, planning and economic development, said:

"Plans to develop the building into supported housing have been agreed and £1million of funding has been allocated by government to enable this to happen.

"The flats will support people affected by homelessness towards independent and stable lives. Over time, residents currently living at the property will move on to longer-term housing.

"This will enable us to accommodate new residents who are already on a path to recovery and stability after the trauma of sleeping rough and whose levels of need will be lower.

"It is anticipated that some minor works will begin later this financial year with more significant works later next year.

"We are about to begin the process of identifying a suitable housing management and support provider for the building and have written to residents advising how they can help shape that contract."