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Government to launch 11 new homeless shelters

The government will launch 11 new homeless shelters across England in spring 2019.

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Picture: Lucy Brown
Picture: Lucy Brown
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The government has announced 11 new homeless shelters will be launched around England in spring 2019 #ukhousing

The hubs, which will provide support to address the complex needs of people who are street homeless, were previously announced in August as part of the government’s rough sleeping strategy.

They are expected to cost £4.8m, which will come out of the £100m already set aside for the strategy.

Known as ‘Somewhere Safe to Stay’ centres, the government previously said it would spend £17m of the total budget on expanding the programme. Inside Housing has asked whether this has changed.


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Housing secretary James Brokenshire said: “These are vulnerable people, who may be dealing with complex mental health problems or addictions and require specialist help to tackle these issues and turn their lives around.”

“That’s why these vital new hubs will ensure those on the streets have access to professional help and guidance to start their recovery.”

The allocation of these funds coincides with the Labour Party announcing a new annual cold weather fund – set at £100m in the first year – to provide rough sleepers with emergency shelters in the winter.

Labour previously announced that the second homes levy will pay for the fund, which will provide emergency accommodation and housing support to rough sleepers across the country.

John Healey, shadow housing secretary, said: “Rough sleeping has risen every year since 2010 as a direct result of decisions made by Conservative ministers and the problem is getting worse. Labour’s plan will save lives and needs to be put in place now.

“Labour will give every rough sleeper a roof over their head and tackle the root causes of rising homelessness with an end to the freeze on benefits, new rights for renters and a million low-cost homes.”

In October, figures from charities revealed that rough sleeping in London had hit an all-time high, with 3,103 people sleeping on the streets between July and September 2018.

Last week, an investigation by Inside Housing found that the government’s new welfare policy, Universal Credit, was making people more likely to be homeless or evicted from social housing.

The government said it plans to launch an extra four centres in 2019 as well as these 11. The first hubs will be launched in the following areas:

  • Brighton & Hove
  • Bristol
  • Cheshire West and Chester
  • Derby
  • Gloucestershire
  • Lincoln
  • Liverpool
  • Medway
  • Nottingham City
  • Preston
  • West London
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