Today, the Chancellor has set out
the UK government’s Autumn Budget, including a
commitment of £639m by 2024-25 to tackle rough sleeping and
homelessness.
However, no further funding was
committed for the three highly successful Housing First
pilots, whose funding ends next year. They are
providing housing and support to more than 1000 people
Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and West Midlands
Combined Authority.
Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis,
said: “We
welcome the funding announced today to tackle rough sleeping and
homelessness but it is vital this money is used
to most effectively prevent and end homelessness for
good.
“What is more, more than a thousand people
successfully housed through Housing First schemes are still
waiting to know if they will have a place to live
next year, after continued funding for the pilots is left
unconfirmed.
“It is vital that the UK government quickly clarifies the
pilots’ future and councils use the money announced today to
most effectively prevent and end homelessness. We
know that investing in Housing First gives people most
entrenched in rough sleeping the best chance to leave the streets
behind for good.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
Housing First works by providing people with a long
term home as soon as possible, along
with open-ended support to keep it. Unlike other
homelessness schemes, Housing First does not
require people to prove they are ‘tenancy ready’
before accessing mainstream housing.
For people with multiple issues relating to disability, trauma
and addiction this means they do not have to first move
up through different types of temporary and supported
accommodation and agree to any suggested treatment before
moving into their home.
By September 2020, collectively the three Housing First pilots in
Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and West Midlands
Combined Authority had housed 450 people, with 88% of
clients sustaining tenancies across the programme.
