- Councils able to bid for share of multi-million pound funding
for long-term, supported homes
- 6,000 new homes pledged by the end of this Parliament
- Specialist staff will offer mental health and substance
misuse treatment, to help rough sleepers recover and move on
Thousands more rough sleepers will be helped to rebuild their
lives away from the streets thanks to a multi-million-pound
investment in dedicated homes launched today (Thursday 18 March)
by the Housing Secretary MP.
Homes will be made available in every region of England, enabling
people who sleep rough, or at risk of sleeping rough, to be
rehoused in secure, long-term accommodation. This will provide
some of the most vulnerable in society with a place to live and
help them to rebuild their lives as they transition away from
life on the streets.
Through this scheme, rough sleepers will be supported by
specialist staff to access the help they need, such as support
for mental health or substance misuse needs, so they can move
towards training and work, and finding a permanent home.
This funding is the next stage of the largest-ever investment in
longer-term accommodation for rough sleepers, with 6,000 homes
pledged by the end of this Parliament as part of the Government's
mission to end rough sleeping once and for all.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is
leading a cross-government drive to eliminate rough sleeping by
the end of this Parliament – with £750 million being spent over
the next year to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
Housing Secretary, Rt Hon MP said:
“Since the start of the pandemic, we made it a priority to
protect rough sleepers through our ongoing Everyone In campaign,
which has supported more than 37,000 people into long-term
accommodation.
“To build on this progress we are making the biggest ever
investment in longer-term accommodation for rough sleepers so
they can have a secure, safe and comfortable home and rebuild
their lives.
“Councils have played an outstanding role in protecting rough
sleepers throughout the pandemic and today’s funding is a further
opportunity to work together to achieve our mission of ending
rough sleeping once and for all.”
, Minister for Housing and Rough Sleeping
said:
“Looking back at an incredibly challenging twelve months,
everyone who has helped protect rough sleepers, including
councils, charities, housing providers and support groups, should
be immensely proud of the role they have played in our
internationally recognised response.
“This new funding will play a vital role in maintaining this
progress, with long-term, secure homes providing a safe place to
live so that rough sleepers do not have to return to our
streets.”
Cllr James Jamieson, Local Government Association
Chairman, said:
“It is vital that we build on the success of councils, Government
and partners in getting rough sleepers off the streets during the
pandemic and make this the new normal rather than a one-off
emergency response.
“This investment will help to transform the lives of people
sleeping rough and ensure they get the crucial support they need
and a roof above their head.
“Councils stand ready to play their part in the cross-government
drive to end rough sleeping altogether and make sure no-one
suffers the tragedy of becoming homeless.”
The Government’s unprecedented Everyone In initiative was
launched by the Housing Secretary at the start of the pandemic to
protect rough sleepers – some of the most vulnerable people in
our communities – and has so far supported 37,000 individuals,
with more than 26,000 already moved on to longer-term
accommodation.
Data published last month shows that rough sleeping has fallen
43% since the peak in 2017 – with 2,688 people estimated to be
sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2020, compared to
4,677 in 2018.
Through the first year of the Rough Sleeping Accommodation
Programme, the Government allocated more than £150 million, as
well as investing in high-quality support over the next three
years, so that vulnerable people helped through the programme can
maintain their tenancies and move on from rough sleeping.
Councils are invited to bid for a share of the £212 million
funding for the next three years as part of a total £433 million
investment in safe, long-term, stable and supported housing for
rough sleepers.
Bristol City Council received funding for a partnership with St Mungo’s
which will deliver 21 homes for former long-term rough sleepers
supported through the 'Everyone In' campaign. The new tenants are
being supported to sustain their tenancies by St Mungo’s
specialist support workers.
St Helens and Torus Housing are delivering 28 quality homes for
rough sleepers renovated from the shell of long-term, unlettable
flats. Tenants will benefit from the high standard of
accommodation and the garden space provided as part of the
development, with homes allocated to either current or former
rough sleepers.
