Today, the Prime Minister and Housing Secretary have announced an extra £236 million to help end rough sleeping and launched an urgent review into its causes.
The number of rough sleepers nationally has fallen by 9% but is still far too high. This funding will provide accommodation for up to 6000 rough sleepers and those at immediate risk. New units will be bought and existing spaces refurbished, as well as private properties rented, to provide shelter, stability and certainty.
In conjunction with the funding boost, an independent and urgent review, led by Dame Louise Casey, will be taken to investigate the causes of rough sleeping and advice the Government on what strategies need to be adopted to end rough sleeping.
Speaking ahead of a visit to a homelessness charity, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“It is simply unacceptable that we still have so many people sleeping on the streets, and I am absolutely determined to end rough sleeping once and for all.
“Today I’ve announced extra funding to help thousands more people get off the streets, and I have appointed Dame Louise Casey as an adviser to undertake an urgent review into the causes of rough sleeping and provide expert advice on vital next steps.
“We must tackle the scourge of rough sleeping urgently, and I will not stop until the thousands of people in this situation are helped off the streets and their lives have been rebuilt.”
These are the newest measures announced by the Government. £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness has already been invested and a £100 million Rough Sleeping Initiative providing councils with the resources to supply 6000 beds and 25000 staff over the next year.
Local MP, Caroline Dinenage, commented:
“We are lucky in Gosport that we have such fantastic organisations and projects, such Two Saints, the Open Doors Project and new homelessness hostel, that provide vital support for rough sleepers.
“However, ultimately, no one should be sleeping out in the cold and I hope that these programmes may soon no longer be necessary as we provide accommodation and long-term support for rough sleepers. I am pleased that the Government has already invested £1.2 billion and this further funding and review announced today is another step forwards.