£160m ‘moral mission’ to get rough sleepers off the streets
THOUSANDS of new homes will be made available in a multi-million pound bid to “end rough sleeping for good”.
The Government will provide £160million so that 3,300 properties will be ready in the next 12 months with a total of 6,000 on the way.
The “moral mission” is to provide long-term safe homes, with many spaces going to people housed in emergency accommodation. Overall funding to tackle rough sleeping will rise to £433million.
People who move into the homes will be supported by specialist staff to help with mental health, substance abuse and other issues. It is hoped they will “rebuild their lives, move towards training and work, and remain off the streets for good”.
The Government claims that in just over two months more than 90 per cent of rough sleepers known to councils at the start of the pandemic have been offered accommodation “where they can remain safe and able to protect themselves”.
The Rough Sleeping Covid-19 response taskforce is led by Dame Louise Casey, a former senior figure at the homelessness charity Shelter.
She said: “The goal is ambitious. Together, we want to do everything possible to ensure that vulnerable people who were sleeping rough and have come inside during this pandemic – some for the first time in a very long time – do not go back to the streets.
“The effort so far has been immense – councils, charities and health providers have all worked tirelessly to support some of the most vulnerable during these unprecedented times. I want to thank all of those who have already stepped up to support rough sleepers so far. We know this safe harbour is just the start – we have an extraordinary opportunity to end rough sleeping for good.”
Temporary accommodation is being provided by theyouth Hostelsassociation, THEYMCA and universities
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said ending rough sleeping is a “moral mission”. He added: “This is an unprecedented commitment.”