The Mayor of London, , has warned that the
switching off of an app that has been used by thousands of
Londoners to help homeless people risks leaving vulnerable people
on the street this winter.
The Streetlink app allows members of the public to alert local
homelessness support services if they see someone sleeping rough
in their area. Between April 2022 and March 2023 there were
11,861 referrals using the app nationally. Last year, StreetLink
alerts led directly to the Mayor’s Rapid Response Outreach Team
supporting nearly 2,000 people into emergency accommodation or an
assessment hub, with 85 per cent leaving rough sleeping as a
result. There are also eight London boroughs where a local
outreach team responds to StreetLink alerts, meaning the total
number of people supported off the streets each year following a
report made to StreetLink will be higher still.
However, following the Government’s procurement of a new provider
for the service this winter, the Mayor was deeply concerned to
hear that the app that had helped so many vulnerable people is to
be discontinued, with all referrals now having to be made via the
StreetLink website. From 29 September 2023, Streetlink’s app
ceased functioning, severing a vital method for concerned members
of the public to help people sleeping rough.
Streetlink and other rough sleeping support services are set to
be more vital than ever this winter as extraordinary financial
pressures put the poorest at growing risk of homelessness. Across
the country, rough sleeping rose last year and is up by 74% since
2010.
The Mayor continues to urge the Government to do much more to
prevent rough sleeping. In particular, he wants to see the
Government put more robust measures in place to tackle the
unprecedented cost-of living-crisis, provide further assistance
for those with drug and alcohol dependency and restore the social
security safety net which helps stop people become trapped in a
cycle of homelessness. He has also called for the end to no-fault
evictions for private renters and national investment in new
council and affordable homes.
Since taking office, the Mayor has rapidly expanded the number of
pan-London rough sleeping services that City Hall funds and
commissions. Since 2016, the Mayor’s Rough Sleeping Programme has
supported over 15,500 people to leave the streets for good,
alleviating the suffering and indignity associated with rough
sleeping. However, the Mayor’s pioneering ‘In for Good’
principle meant that, following intervention from City
Hall-funded services, more than 75 per cent of those who received
support were not seen sleeping rough again.
At £36.3m, the rough sleeping budget in 2023/24 is now more than
four times the £8.45m a year it was when took office. This includes
£12.1m of City Hall funding and £23.5m secured from the
Government.
The Mayor of London, , said: “It beggars
belief that the Government is removing this support for rough
sleepers at a time when the number of people on our country’s
streets is rising, with the number up three-quarters in England
since 2010.
“Last year, more than 11,000 referrals were made across England
via the StreetLink app, around half of which were in London. This
app has been crucial for connecting rough sleepers to services
that can get them off the streets, including the Mayor’s
pioneering Rapid Response Outreach Team.
“Ministers must urgently re-instate this important support for
rough sleepers.”
