Written statement by , Minister of State
for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith
On 19 August, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for
Housing, Communities and Local Government announced the next
steps in his national drive to end rough sleeping, backed by £442
million of funding through a new Rough Sleeping Programme.
This will ensure that everyone sleeping rough is offered a route
off the streets before Christmas this year, while providing
longer-term accommodation and support for people with the most
complex and long-term experiences of rough sleeping.
No one should have to sleep rough. Yet too many people remain
without the safety and stability of a secure home. This
Government is determined to change that, combining urgent action
this winter with longer-term investment to tackle rough sleeping
and help people rebuild their lives.
Ahead of Christmas, we are funding local areas to expand
accommodation provision for people sleeping rough, alongside
tailored support to address the issues that contribute to rough
sleeping. This may include accommodation, support to access
mental health or substance use services, help to access
employment or training, help to access or maintain accommodation,
or other support tailored to individual circumstances. At the
same time, we are investing in settled accommodation and
intensive support for people experiencing long-term rough
sleeping, helping those with the most complex needs leave rough
sleeping behind permanently. This investment will help deliver
more than 1,000 settled homes for people experiencing rough
sleeping, alongside the support needed to sustain them.
Funding has been targeted towards areas with the greatest rough
sleeping pressures, while giving Mayoral Strategic Authorities
and local authorities flexibility to shape services around local
need. This reflects the Government's commitment to devolving
power and resources to local leaders, who are best placed to
understand local challenges and shape the responses needed in
their communities, and Mayoral Strategic Authorities are expected
to manage funding across their area in partnership with local
authorities.
Alongside funding allocations, we have published guidance to help
local areas mobilise quickly and deliver a consistent route off
the street offer this winter. The guidance makes clear the need
to ensure adequate and accessible provision for women
experiencing rough sleeping, recognising that women are often
underrepresented in official statistics and may be at greater
risk of violence, abuse, and exploitation.
We are also increasing investment in the Ending Homelessness in
Communities Fund, taking the total funding to £47 million, with
£8.1million additional funding, supporting voluntary, faith and
community organisations who are often the first point of contact
for people furthest from mainstream support.
This investment builds on the Government's wider National Plan to
End Homelessness and sits alongside action to prevent
homelessness before it occurs. The £442 million package takes
total investment in homelessness and rough sleeping services over
the next three years to more than £4 billion. By combining
immediate action this winter with long-term investment in
accommodation and intensive support, we are taking a significant
step towards ending rough sleeping and helping people build
stable lives away from the streets.
