An additional £20million of funding will be spread across 280 councils, including all London boroughs as part of Labour’s Plan for Change strategy. The extra cash is meant to provide support and relief for rough sleepers as the brutal winter temperatures continue.
Homelessness and sleeping rough during the winter is far more likely to have long-term effects, putting people at an “even greater risk” for long-term sickness. People sleeping rough are also eight to 12 times more likely to die prematurely according to government statistics.
In particular, the Rough Sleeping Winter Pressures Funding scheme will go directly to areas with the highest recorded rough sleeping figures. The additional cash will go towards helping frontline workers on the ground helping rough sleepers.
This move is intended to increase the number of people heading off the streets and to safe, secure accommodation with warm beds and meals as well as medical treatment if they require it. It will also provide critical support staff to help long-term rough sleepers with issues like substance abuse and employment opportunities.
Some of the additional funds will bolster specialist programmes for rough sleepers that are also part of particularly vulnerable groups. This includes veterans, care leavers and victims of domestic abuse.
Originally, the scheme only received £10million in funding. With the additional £20million it now stands three times higher at a £30million total ready to assist the most vulnerable people in society and potentially saves lives especially during bitterly cold weather.
Minister for Homelessness, Rushanara Ali, said as the scheme was announced today: “Behind every sad rough sleeping statistic, there is a person who has been let down by the system for far too long. This government is more determined than ever to turn the tide on years of failure to properly invest in our frontline services.
“Through our Plan for Change we are already taking urgent action to tackle the worst housing crisis in living memory. Delivering the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation and getting us back on track to end homelessness for good.”
The emergency cash injection today follows years of increasing rough sleeping statistics, with over 360,000 households reportedly approaching their councils to get help with homelessness last year alone. It’s also alongside the £37million set aside for the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme to help rough sleepers into long term housing with specialist staff to support their mental health or any substance abuse problems.
Additionally, according to government statistics, one of the leading causes of homelessness is ‘no fault’ evictions that will be abolished for new and existing tenancies under the Renters’ Rights Bill. The bill is not yet in place but is steadily making its way through the parliamentary procedure following the third reading in the House of Commons last week, officials say.