Conservative response to Labour’s homelessness announcement

“Under the Conservatives there is record investment going in to tackling homelessness – £1.2 billion until April 2020 with a further £422 million for 2020-21.

“We introduced the Homeless Reduction Act, the most ambitious set of changes to homeless legislation in decades, but we know there is more to do. That’s why our manifesto includes raising Stamp Duty for foreign buyers with the £120m expected proceeds going to tackling homelessness, and a commitment to end the scourge of rough sleeping by the end of the next Parliament.

“A Conservative majority government will get Brexit done and focus on tackling homelessness by expanding successful programmes like Housing First and the Rough Sleeping Initiative, which has proven effective in reducing rough sleeping in areas where it is running.”

ENDS

 Notes to Editors

• Our Manifesto commits to end rough sleeping by the end of the next Parliament (Conservative Party, Manifesto 2019, 24 November 2019, link).

• Our Manifesto also commits to increasing Stamp Duty for foreign buyers and directing the proceeds towards tackling homelessness. We will apply a higher rate of stamp duty to individuals and companies not tax resident in the UK. This will help make homes in the UK more affordable for UK residents and people building a life here and the money raised will help tackle rough sleeping (Conservative Party, Manifesto 2019, 24 November 2019, link).

• We have invested a total of £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness, because everyone should have the dignity of a roof over their heads. This includes £316 million of local authority prevention and £617 million in flexible homelessness support grant funding for local authorities. This funding is giving local authorities the flexibility to tackle homelessness strategically in their local area.

• Our Homelessness Reduction Act places a duty on local authorities to intervene early to prevent people becoming homeless. It significantly reformed England’s homelessness legislation by placing duties on local authorities to intervene at earlier stages to prevent homelessness in their areas. It also requires housing authorities to provide homelessness services to all those affected, not just those who have ‘priority need’ (MHCLG, Homelessness code of guidance for local authorities, 15 April 2019, link).

• We produced a £100 million Rough Sleeping Strategy to end rough sleeping completely by 2027 by offering rapid and specialist support to help people to find a new home quickly and rebuild their lives. The cross-Government Strategy – developed with charities and experts - provides timely support to those at risk of rough sleeping, intervening to help people already on the streets get the support they need, and helping people recover and rebuild their lives. The ambition of the strategy will now be brought forward to 2024.

• Rough sleeping is falling for the first time this decade – but we know there is still much more to do. In February 2019, the number of vulnerable people sleeping on our streets fell for the first time since 2010.

• Cutting rough sleeping in the worst affected areas using our Rough Sleeping Initiative. The programme is providing £76 million for 246 areas across the country – funding 2,600 beds and 750 staff – and has reduced the number of vulnerable people sleeping rough in these areas by 32 per cent.

• Bringing forward three innovative ‘Housing First’ pilots, a proven approach, with £28 million to help people off the streets and back on their feet. These pilots, in Manchester, Liverpool and the West Midlands, will provide 1,000 people with stable, affordable accommodation and help them recover from complex health issues, such as substance abuse and mental health difficulties.

• Launching 11 rough sleeping hubs across England to provide specialist support for thousands of vulnerable people. 11 rough sleeping hubs to be launched across England – providing specialist support for thousands of vulnerable people with locations including Bristol, Derby and West London.