Some people sleeping rough in some areas could be forced to stay
out in the cold this winter to avoid a risk of infection in
unsafe settings, due to shortfalls in funding and appropriate
accommodation for councils to use, a new report for the Local
Government Association warns today.
The problem is exacerbated by some people returning to
sleeping rough on the streets.
The LGA said many councils are concerned about their
ability to provide adequate cold weather provision in a way that
does not increase the risk of infection, and about the impact of
the continued closure of accommodation normally used for severe
weather emergency planning.
A new report, Lessons learnt from councils’ response to
rough sleeping during the COVID-19 pandemic, by Local
Partnerships and commissioned by the LGA, has found that some
councils will be able to provide severe weather emergency
provision within hostels, hotels and B&Bs, or reconfigured
communal spaces such as day centres with cubicles.
However, it warns others face a choice between leaving
people sleeping rough outside in the cold or bringing them into
accommodation, such as night shelters, which risks spreading the
virus and should only be used as a last resort.
While councils are extremely reluctant to use communal
spaces for cold weather provision when there is a risk of
COVID-19 infection, some are concerned they have no
alternative.
It comes as the report finds some councils have experienced
current rough sleeping numbers exceeding those seen before the
pandemic. This is due to some people returning to the streets
since the initial Everyone In initiative to get people sleeping
rough off the streets in March, some intermittent rough sleepers
not being accommodated during the scheme because they weren’t
rough sleeping at the time, and some people new to sleeping on
the streets.
The LGA said the Government has recognised the challenges
facing councils this winter by announcing £12 million severe
weather emergency provision funding, more than 80 per cent of
which will be awarded to councils.
However, the LGA, which represents councils, says that
greater financial support is likely to be needed to get through
the months ahead.
Cllr David Renard, LGA housing spokesperson, said
“Many councils have serious concerns about whether they can
provide adequate emergency accommodation during cold weather and
not increase the risk of COVID-19 spreading.
“As a result, some face an incredibly difficult choice of
whether it would be better to leave people sleeping rough on the
streets or bringing them indoors where they could be
infected.
“The funding announced by the Government so far has been
helpful for councils, but it is unlikely to be enough to ensure
that people sleeping rough get the support and protection they
need this winter.
“The Everyone In initiative was a significant success, with
councils acting rapidly to get the vast majority of people
sleeping rough off the streets and into safe and suitable
accommodation.
“But a period of extreme and severe weather could seriously
jeopardise councils’ ability to protect people sleeping rough
from COVID-19 during this second wave.”
Notes to editors
Lessons
learnt from councils’ response to rough sleeping during the
COVID-19 pandemic
