Responding to the annual single night snapshot of the number of
people sleeping rough in England, Cllr David Renard, the Local
Government Association’s housing spokesman, said:
“Any fall in the number of rough sleepers is good news, but while
progress is being made, the figures show that much more needs to
be done to address the causes of homelessness.
“One rough sleeper is one too many for councils, who are
determined to prevent rough sleeping and homelessness from
happening in the first place.
“Therefore, we are pleased the Government has announced £236
million to help councils’ efforts to get people off the streets
and into safe accommodation, and that Dame Louise Casey has been
appointed as an independent adviser to the Government on rough
sleeping.
“We look forward to working closely with Dame Casey and the
Government on this and on addressing the vital, wider issue of
homelessness.
“We are calling on the Government to build on this by using the
Budget to adapt welfare reforms to protect families at risk of
becoming homeless, and restore local housing allowance rates to
cover at least the lowest third of market rents.
“With powers and funding to spark a genuine renaissance in
council house-building, councils can also provide the homes,
including social homes for rent, that are desperately needed to
help boost affordability, home ownership and reduce homelessness
and rough sleeping.”
