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MPs call on government to save Housing First from ‘funding cliff edge’ as pilot schemes near end
A group of cross-party MPs is urging the government to commit to funding a wider roll-out of Housing First across England as three pilot projects begin drawing to a close.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ending Homelessness has published a report following its inquiry into the roll-out of Housing First across England.
The report recommends that the government “should commit to nationally scaling up Housing First in England and making it the default option of support for people with multiple serious needs that compound their homelessness”.
Housing First is based on the concept that a person sleeping rough should be offered a permanent home as soon as possible with wraparound support.
It differs to other types of homelessness support that see rough sleepers go through different types of temporary accommodation in order to prove they are ‘tenancy ready’ before accessing a permanent home.
In 2018 the government funded three Housing First pilots in Greater Manchester, the Liverpool City Region and the West Midlands Combined Authority to provide accommodation for up to 1,100 people.
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However, funding for these pilots is due to end in 2022 and the APPG warned that they now face a “cliff edge of support”.
The report said the government should use the Autumn Spending Review to “secure further funding for the three city-region pilots and commit to expanding it to other regions with the highest needs”.
It cited research commissioned by Crisis and Homeless Link published prior to the COVID-19 pandemic which estimated that at least 16,450 people could benefit from Housing First in England.
Neil Coyle MP and Bob Blackman MP, co-chairs of the APPG on Ending Homelessness, said: “The last year has underlined how fundamental a safe and secure home is to everyone.
“Thirty-seven thousand people in England facing homelessness were provided emergency accommodation during the pandemic, including many who had not engaged in services in a long time. We must build on that success and Housing First is the next step.
“Housing First supports people with the most challenging issues and is already working in Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and the West Midlands. But as it stands, funding for those pilots will end from next year. We must not turn our backs on the progress made and the people supported.
“We urge the UK government to commit to funding the three pilots beyond 2022 and start scaling up Housing First across England to help fulfil its pledge to end rough sleeping by 2024.”
Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “Housing First works. For people with higher support needs, including those who have been stuck in homelessness for years, it provides a solid foundation from which they can address any trauma, addiction and mental health issues they may face.
“Evidence from these three city regions and around the world shows that Housing First is the most effective approach to ending the homelessness of people with complex needs.
“It is unthinkable that the pilots could be stopped from providing that vital support to over a thousand people. Now is the time to expand Housing First across England and make it accessible to more people, not fewer.”
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “Over 1,000 people are being supported through our Housing First pilots, and over 750 have already been offered permanent accommodation.
“We are providing unprecedented funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping – spending £750m this year.
“The independent evaluation of the Housing First pilots is under way, and we will consider these findings going forward.”
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