The Mayor of London, has warned
that hundreds of homeless Londoners face the potentially fatal
choice of freezing on the streets or risking Covid infection in
communal accommodation if ministers don’t address a serious
shortfall in emergency accommodation funding this winter.
Charities, councils and City Hall have all been working
tirelessly to ensure people who are homeless this winter have a
bed in safe, Covid-secure accommodation over the coldest months.
But new calculations from the Mayor’s rough sleeping team have
highlighted a £24m gap in emergency accommodation funding –
meaning there simply won’t be enough safe spaces for everyone who
needs them this winter. Recently-announced funding from central
Government - a national £10m winter fund and the £15m ‘Protect’
programme – falls far short of what is needed.
The Mayor is calling for the Government to make extra funds
available as a matter of extreme urgency as temperatures drop and
Covid cases in the capital rise. The Mayor has already activated
the pan-London Severe Weather Emergency Protocols (SWEP) for one
night this winter as temperatures dipped below 0C.
This funding would not only pay for accommodation but also
help provide the support many vulnerable homeless people require,
including dedicated services for people with drug and alcohol
problems, members of the LGBTQ+ community and young homeless
people. More than 500 under-35s were accommodated in hotels
funded by City Hall during the first wave of the pandemic.
The Mayor recognises the huge impact the pandemic has had
on the lives of young people, with the instability, lack of
opportunities and unstable employment forcing hundreds into
homelessness for the first time. The Mayor’s 2020/21 Winter Rough
Sleeping Fundraising Campaign will directly benefit this group as
funds will be split between four charities working with young
homeless Londoners: Depaul, akt, Centrepoint and New Horizons
Youth Centre.
Over the last three years generous Londoners have raised
over £500,000 for charities to support rough sleepers off the
streets and the public will once again have the opportunity to
donate via TAP London contactless donation points in shops,
stations and cafes across the capital or on the TAP London
website.
Since March, a world-leading collective effort by London
local government and charities has given more than 6,000 homeless
people across London somewhere safe to stay – including over
1,700 in hotels funded by City Hall. Doing this has kept some of
the most vulnerable Londoners safe, avoiding an estimated 7,000
infections and 90 deaths, and preventing the high number of
infections seen amongst those who are homeless in other global
cities.
The Mayor of London,
said: “For homeless Londoners, this is a
winter like no other, as they face the twin dangers of freezing
conditions and Covid-19.
“My rough sleeping team, charities and councils are working
tirelessly to support and accommodate homeless Londoners this
winter, as they have been doing since the start of the
pandemic.
“London will continue to do what we can with the resources
we have to keep homeless Londoners safe but we could be doing so
much more. Ministers must urgently set out the funding and policy
changes needed to keep people off the streets for good.
“In the absence of action from Government to keep every
rough sleeper safe this winter, I’m confident Londoners will once
again show their compassion and generosity by backing my winter
fundraising campaign and helping to support young Londoners who
find themselves homeless.”
Depaul UK CEO Mike
Thiedke said: “We are thrilled to be chosen as one of
the beneficiaries of the Mayor of London’s Winter Appeal. Depaul
UK is also proud of the contribution we have been able to make to
the Mayor’s pandemic emergency response. Working with his Deputy
Mayor and the team at City Hall, we have provided desperately
needed emergency accommodation and resettlement
support.
“With more young people
facing homelessness as the result of the pandemic, the need for
our services will only increase. The Mayor’s support is
invaluable and I would like to thank the Mayor on behalf of
Depaul UK. As the weather gets colder, I urge Londoners to give
generously to keep young people safe, warm and off the
streets.”
Phil Kerry, Chief
Executive at New Horizon said: “This year we have seen Covid-19 has
pushed more young people onto the streets. As the only charity in
London offering youth-specific street outreach and daycentre
support for under-25s sleeping rough, your donations are vital to
ensure we can offer the services so badly needed this
winter.”
Seyi Obakin, chief
executive of Centrepoint, said:
“This year has been a huge
challenge for everyone but, for charities like Centrepoint and
the young people we support, it has been particularly tough. Our
income started falling just as the costs for protecting our staff
and young people increased and the demand on our services, such
as the only youth homelessness Helpline, has surged
too.
“We know this is shaping up to
be a Christmas like no other. However, as most of us meet up with
our loved ones at home or over a video call, we should try to
remember that London’s most vulnerable young people don’t have
that support network of family or friends and some may even lack
somewhere safe to sleep.
“That is why we are so
grateful for the Mayor’s support and it is why we need your help
now more than ever. This appeal will let us protect more
vulnerable young people over Christmas and give them a chance of
a brighter New Year.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
To find your nearest TAP point or to donate online please
go to: https://www.taplondon.org/donate
