, Leader of the Labour Party,
has joined with Labour’s directly elected mayors to call on the
Government to honour its commitment to end rough sleeping by
seizing the “once in a generation opportunity” presented by the
Covid-19 pandemic.
The demand comes ahead of a virtual meeting today
[Thursday] between the Labour leader and Labour’s directly
elected ‘metro mayors’.
According to official figures, during the coronavirus
pandemic more than 5,000 rough sleepers have been offered
emergency accommodation, including in hotels. However, Ministers
have so far failed to commit to supporting those rough sleepers
into longer-term accommodation.
Today’s statement from Labour warns that government
inaction “could see rough sleepers ending up back on the streets”
and has called for “certainty over the future funding
arrangements.”
It goes on: “When this crisis is over, we cannot return to
business as usual…If the government is serious about its
commitment to end rough sleeping, now is the time to act.”
Ends
Full statement signed by: , Leader of the Labour Party;
Thangam Debbonaire, Shadow Housing Secretary; , Mayor of London; , Mayor of Greater Manchester;
, Mayor of Liverpool City Region; Dan Jarvis, Mayor
of Sheffield City Region; and Jamie Driscoll, Mayor of North
Tyne.
Coronavirus is the biggest crisis our country has faced for
a generation. But it has also presented us with a once in a
generation opportunity: to help thousands of rough sleepers off
the streets for good.
Thanks to the incredible work of local government, and
dedicated funding from central Government, that opportunity is
within our grasp.
The Government has rightly committed to protecting
vulnerable rough sleepers for the duration of the pandemic.
However, the dedicated funding to house rough sleepers is set to
run out and no clear plans or resources have been put in place by
Government for what happens next.
The Government needs to provide clarity on their 'Everyone
In' policy, to include those made homeless during the lockdown,
and certainty over the future funding arrangements. Without this
we could see rough sleepers ending up back on the streets. We
also need to see policy changes for those with no recourse to
public funds, and changes to Local Housing Allowance and Housing
Benefit. These changes will help us move rough sleepers into
longer-term accommodation and provide wrap-around support to help
them stay there.
We restate today our commitment to doing everything
in our power to ensure that no one who has been helped off the
streets during this period is forced to return.
That includes non-UK nationals who wouldn’t normally be
able to access welfare and other support.
But to achieve this we need the government to make
the same pledge – and to back it up with
actions. Warm words are worth nothing to
those who were sleeping on the streets, and people across the
country will not forgive us if this opportunity is missed. Mayors
and council leaders are doing everything possible, but we need
that commitment to be matched by government.
When this crisis is over, we cannot return to business as
usual. Rough sleepers, some of whom are receiving support for the
first time, have been brought safely off the streets. We cannot
let that progress go to waste.
This is an unprecedented opportunity to 'build back better'
and avoid a return to business as usual. If the government is
serious about its commitment to end rough sleeping, now is the
time to act.
Signed by:
MP, Leader of the Labour
Party;
, Shadow Housing
Secretary;
, Mayor of London;
, Mayor of Greater
Manchester;
, Mayor of Liverpool City Region;
, Mayor of Sheffield City
Region; and
Jamie Driscoll, Mayor of North Tyne.
Notes to Editors:
