Vagrancy damages the soul, says minister as £100m in aid unveiled
HOMELESSNESS “damages the soul”, a minister has said, as the Prime Minister today promises to spend millions preventing people from sleeping rough on the street.
As part of its homelessness strategy the Government is pledging to spend millions of pounds helping ex-prisoners to get benefits and find somewhere safe to live once they leave jail.
Rory Stewart, a justice minister, said more must be done to prevent former inmates ending up rough sleeping, where they are 17 times more likely to be attacked than the general public, and more likely to end up addicted to drink and drugs.
A large part of the scheme will focus on drugs such as Spice. Mr Stewart said: “Sleeping out, night after night, in a street or a park, or a doorway, is not simply cold and uncomfortable – it is lonely, and damaging to soul and body. Too many rough sleepers come straight from prison, moving from their jail cells into this outdoor life of isolation, vulnerability and addiction.
“On the streets, without a job, without mental health support, or a bed for the night, they are sucked back into a criminal life, reoffend, and soon end up back
‘Too many rough sleepers come straight from prison, moving from their jail cells into this outdoor life’
in prison. We must do much more to help rough sleepers, and ex-prisoners in particular, to find a house and re-establish a more stable life. It is not just good for them, it is vital for public safety.”
A team of “navigators” will be set up and will pair with one rough sleeper to help them get their life back on track. The £100million strategy will offer support with mental health and addictions as well as help with accommodation. Based on a three-pronged approach of prevention, intervention and recovery, it focuses on efforts to stop people becoming homeless in the first place.
The strategy includes £50 million for homes outside London for people ready to move on from hostels or refuges, and £30million for mental health support for rough sleepers.
Ministers are also expected to review legislation such as the Vagrancy Act, which dates back to 1824 and still makes it illegal to sleep rough or beg. Around 4,750 people are estimated to sleep rough each night in England.
Theresa May said: “Nobody should have to sleep rough and that’s why we must do all we can to help the most vulnerable in our society get the support they need.
“But we recognise this is a complex issue – as well as ensuring people have somewhere to live, we have to deal with underlying problems and ultimately help people turn their lives around.”