Government commits extra ?10m to rough sleeping fund

The announcement was made in yesterday’s Autumn Statement, delivered by chancellor Philip Hammond.

The money is to “support and scale up” forward-looking projects that prevent or reduce rough sleeping and will be focused on London, though not exclusively.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “With rough sleeping having more than doubled since 2010, investment is needed now more than ever.

“However, the root causes of rough sleeping cannot be addressed without a change in the law and the funding to make it work. That’s why the Homelessness Reduction Bill, currently making its way through parliament, is so urgently needed.”

Inside Housing’s Cathy at 50 campaign calls for the government to commit to end rough sleeping over time, and halve it by 2020 as a first step.

Recorded rough sleeping in England jumped 30% last year, when 3,569 people were recorded on the streets. This is double the level recorded in 2010.

Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, said: “It is vital that resources are assigned to preventing and responding rapidly to street homelessness, which is dangerous and can be incredibly harmful to people’s health and well-being.

“However, the detail is important here, and we are keen to see how the Department for Communities and Local Government awards the funding, and monitors the impact of the money in how it contributes to preventing and ending rough sleeping.”