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Now is our chance to end rough sleeping for good

The government has worked quickly to protect vulnerable people from coronavirus but the work is only half done, writes Luke Hall

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Picture: Lucy Brown
Picture: Lucy Brown
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Homelessness minister on how we can end rough sleeping for good #ukhousing

“We have a unique opportunity to act and help end rough sleeping for good,” says @MHCLG homelessness minister @LukeHall #UKhousing

The coronavirus crisis has challenged our country like never before. It has reminded us of our fragility, as well as the importance of looking out for our friends and family.

Its effects have been tough on everyone. But it has particularly impacted those who are alone, with no safe place to shelter or self-isolate.

Charity Crisis recently carried out a survey of 150 charities and organisations in England, Scotland and Wales and found more than half reported a rise in people seeking help during the lockdown.

It is clear that vulnerable people need our support now more than ever. That is why we are working round the clock to protect them – including young people who find themselves sleeping on our streets, people in abusive relationships, or those struggling with substance abuse.


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So far, thanks to the vital support of frontline charities and local councils backed by government funding, we have accommodated close to 15,000 people through our ‘Everybody In’ initiative.

That is 15,000 people who have been supported off the streets, who were at risk of sleeping rough, or who have been helped out of unsuitable accommodation, into safe shelter.

This is a staggering number, made possible only through the hard work and determined co-operation of organisations across the country. And once this crisis is over, our utmost priority is to ensure as few people as possible return to life on the streets.

“Once this crisis is over, our utmost priority is to ensure as few people as possible return to life on the streets”

But the impact of the pandemic has been tough for the voluntary sector. Homelessness and rough sleeping charities are collectively battling a surge in demand for services while facing business critical issues such as reduced income and staff.

These unprecedented challenges have come at the exact time their services are needed the most.

Homelessness charities are at the core of our joint mission to end homelessness. And to continue their vital work as part of our wider combined national effort, this pressure must be eased.

That is why the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government has announced a targeted £6m Coronavirus Homelessness Response fund to directly support their brilliant work. This week, we allocated this funding. This is part of a wider £360m fund that has been created solely to offer a lifeline to charities working to end homelessness.

Encompass, for example, which deals with some of the most complex rough sleeping cases in Devon will be receiving an £18,000 grant. Their gender-informed project work and work combatting youth homelessness for ages 14 and above have had a transformative effect on the region.

But Encompass was balancing a drop in fundraised income against additional demand for anxiety support work prompted by the coronavirus crisis. This money will be a lifeline for their core services. Encompass can continue helping to move people into sustainable living situations.

The Helping Hands Community in Warwickshire will also receive support. Helping Hands provides essential services such as advice sessions for rough sleepers and equips people with professional skills through volunteer placements in its cafe and shop.

Sadly the pandemic forced the closure of these premises, as well as halted fundraising events, resulting in drastically reduced income in the face of urgent demand. Our £17,000 funding will make sure Helping Hands does not have to close its doors and can continue to provide telephone support and tailored mental health advice. By appointing Homeless Link as the fund’s delivery partner, we have ensured this money will be sent straight to the frontline – helping charities continue their mission, uninterrupted.

“We have a unique opportunity to act and help end rough sleeping for good”

Up and down the country we urgently need this work to continue.

The human aspect is at the core of the work these charities do. Thousands of vulnerable people rely on them every day, and the government in turn relies on their guidance and expertise.

What’s more, as we move into the next stage of our battle to ensure as few people as possible return to the streets, we need these charities to be at full health – funded, staffed and prepared. This money will help do just that.

For the first time in my lifetime, we are aware of who the majority of rough sleepers across the country are and where they are staying. We have a unique opportunity to act on this and help end rough sleeping for good.

So to keep momentum, we are accelerating £433m of funding to provide more safe accommodation through 6,000 new homes – 3,300 of which will be sourced this year.

We have already launched a new specialist taskforce – led by Dame Louise Casey – which is leading the next phase of this work.

And with the help of the incredible charities I am proud to work alongside, we will keep this spirit of looking out for one another and work together in our joint moral mission to end rough sleeping for good.

Luke Hall, homelessness minister

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