LGA responds to Kerslake Commission report on ending rough sleeping

Responding to the final report from the Kerslake Commission, A new way of working: ending rough sleeping together, Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:

“Getting thousands of rough sleepers off the streets into safe accommodation at the start of the pandemic was an incredible achievement by councils, and this important report sets out key recommendations that can help to prevent a new wave of homelessness.

“As we look to return to normality, it is essential we build on the success of the Everyone In initiative and make sure it is not just a one-off emergency response.

“Supporting those who are vulnerable can only succeed with sector-wide working at a local level, with health, housing associations and the voluntary sector working closely together.

“Councils stand ready to work with government to realise its ambition of ending rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament. For that to happen, the Government must use the forthcoming Spending Review to announce a cross-departmental homelessness prevention strategy. This would need to see councils given the long-term funding required to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place, with welfare changes introduced in the pandemic maintained for as long as they are needed, including the Universal Credit uplift.”