Government has turned its back on rough sleepers this winter - Thangam Debbonaire

Wednesday, 11 November 2020 14:43

The Government has abandoned its commitment to protect rough sleepers during a second lockdown that will be colder and more dangerous than the first. In response to Labour's urgent question in the Commons, the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing refused to explain why the Conservatives are not repeating efforts to ensure everyone is brought “inside and safe”. Instead of calling for ‘everyone in’, the Housing Secretary is only asking councils to “consider time...Request free trial

The Government has abandoned its commitment to protect rough sleepers during a second lockdown that will be colder and more dangerous than the first.

In response to Labour's urgent question in the Commons, the Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing refused to explain why the Conservatives are not repeating efforts to ensure everyone is brought “inside and safe”. Instead of calling for ‘everyone in’, the Housing Secretary is only asking councils to “consider time limited interventions” for those newly sleeping rough, and is only offering funding to 10 local authorities.

The Minister appeared confused by the Government’s protections for renters, claiming that “evictions will not be taking place until January”. Rather than re-starting the ban on evictions that was in place in the first lockdown, the Government has only requested that bailiffs not enforce them, which will mean tenants will continue to receive eviction notices over Christmas.

The Minister also refused to publish the Public Health England advice she had received to support the Government’s controversial decision to open communal night shelters. Seventeen leading health and homelessness organisations, include the British Medical Association and the Faculty of Public Health, wrote to the Prime Minister warning of ‘risk to life’, saying: “Despite the best efforts of shelters to adhere to social distancing, they are designed as communal spaces which makes social distancing and self-isolation extremely difficult.”

Thangam Debbonaire MP, Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, said:

“This winter will be colder and potentially more dangerous than the first lockdown, with nowhere near the same protection for people sleeping rough.

“It is disgraceful that the Government is turning its back on rough sleepers at a time when they need the most help."

Ends

Notes to Editors

Over half (53%) of frontline services had seen a rise in homelessness in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic: https://www.crisis.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/over-half-of-frontline-services-have-seen-a-rise-in-homelessness/
Letter from homelessness and health organisations: https://www.crisis.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/medical-bodies-and-homelessness-organisations-warn-of-risk-to-life-without-action-to-protect-people-sleeping-rough-this-winter/
Rather than re-instating the evictions ban from March, the Secretary of State for Justice wrote to High Court Enforcement Officers requesting that they don’t enforce evictions: https://nearlylegal.co.uk/2020/11/lockdown-2-evictions/
The questions the Government refused to answer:

Can the Minister tell the House why Government has lowered their ambition?
Why has the Government refused to publish the Public Health England advice on this decision [to open communal night shelters]?
Does the Minister agree it is immoral for people to be deported for sleeping rough?
On Armistice Day, can the Minister ensure Government records if homeless people have a service record, so that we can get an accurate picture of the scale and need of those who’ve served?
Will the Minister abolish Section 21 evictions, to prevent a further rise in homelessness, and invest in the support and social homes we need so we can genuinely end rough sleeping for good?