Rough Sleeping

The number of people sleeping rough in England has fallen by 37% over the past year. The Everyone In programme successfully moved over 26,000 individuals into longer-term accommodation and supported an additional 11,000 in emergency accommodation. £400 million will fund 6,000 homes for rough sleepers during the Parliament term.

The Government acknowledges progress made during the pandemic to reduce rough sleeping and have committed significant funding. The methodology used by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is trusted and independent, using similar measures as other developed countries. Rough sleeping initiatives like Everyone In have been successful, with 37,000 people moved into sustainable accommodation or awaiting it. Future efforts will focus on addressing health issues such as substance misuse and mental health to prevent rough sleeping.

There is frustration with the use of rough sleepers to highlight societal problems, given that 99% of them have mental illnesses or addiction issues. The focus should be on providing a civilised society where nobody feels compelled to sleep on the streets due to health issues like drugs, alcohol misuse and mental health.

Welcomed progress on tackling rough sleeping in Scotland, highlighted investments made by the Scottish Government (£32.5 million from £50 million action plan), criticised previous Labour-Lib Dem Administration for building only six council houses in seven years, urged Secretary of State to maintain local housing allowance increase beyond March 2021, suspend shared accommodation rate for under-35s, make permanent the £20 uplift to universal credit and extend it to people claiming legacy benefits.

Praised the Government's commitment to end rough sleeping for good, highlighted Exeter’s success in helping 85% of rough sleepers move into permanent housing through the Everyone In programme, urged continuation and expansion of successful initiatives.

Acknowledged the success of the Everyone In initiative last March but questioned whether it will continue to apply to everyone including those with no recourse to public funds, expressed concern over legal confusion and the potential consequences for individuals left outside due to lack of housing.

Announced zero rough sleepers in his constituency, thanked the Secretary of State's support (£4 million), praised local charities such as New Hope and One YMCA for their efforts in tackling homelessness.

Expressed concern over deaths among rough sleepers (976 in 2020), questioned the reasons for people sleeping rough, highlighted stress caused by uncertainty in temporary housing like hostels, called for investment in council housing and lifetime tenancy social rents to provide secure accommodation.

Congratulated the Secretary of State on the success of the Everyone In programme which took 37,000 people off the streets, emphasised the importance of fulfilling legal obligations under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, urged for a national roll-out of Housing First to ensure comprehensive support including accommodation.

Praised the Homelessness Reduction Act and Housing First initiative. Mentioned that £28 million has been invested in pilots, and £430 million for move-on accommodation to support individuals.

Asked about the moratorium on evictions during the pandemic. Raised concerns over 1,500 people in South Lakeland who are private renters and excluded from Government support.

Extended praise to Kettering Borough Council for reducing rough sleeping numbers significantly. Mentioned the six-month notice period for evictions and exceptions made during the pandemic.

Praised John Conway and his team at Kettering Borough Council for reducing rough sleepers from 62 in 2018 to 22 on latest count, with only one individual sleeping rough currently.

Committed to supporting charities and local councils next year, including £750 million of Government funding.

Acknowledged the reduction in rough sleeping but expressed concern over welfare policy's role in homelessness. Raised concerns about the bedroom tax and rent affordability impacting council flats.

Emphasised the increase in local housing allowance, uplifted universal credit during pandemic, and introduced the furlough scheme to support vulnerable people.

Praised Sutton Night Watch charity for its multi-agency approach. Asked how Government will build on current support for charities tackling rough sleeping.

Discussed the £11.5 billion affordable homes programme and the possibility of urban regeneration, building upwards or increasing density to meet housing demand in Luton.

Acknowledged the reduction of 49% in rough sleepers in Milton Keynes, praising local authorities, charities like The Bus Shelter MK and Winter Night Shelter Milton Keynes for their efforts.

Praised everyone involved in Milton Keynes for achieving a 50% reduction in rough sleeping over the year.

Asked about the discrepancy between official statistics and Government claims regarding rough sleepers. Requested richer and more frequent data on homelessness for better support post-pandemic.

Discussed the robust nature of published numbers from a single night in November, mentioning that the Everyone In programme also helped those in precarious accommodation.

Praised her local charity Guildford Action for training volunteers on naloxone and asked about access to drug rehabilitation services for rough sleepers during recovery.

Emphasised the Government's approach to addressing rough sleeping through a housing and health strategy, focusing on wraparound care for substance misuse, mental health issues, and reintegration into society. He also highlighted the funding secured at the spending review for mental health and substance abuse support, as well as initiatives with the Ministry of Justice for ex-offenders.

Welcomed figures on reducing rough sleeping but questioned why action was not taken earlier. He expressed concern about slashed budgets for mental health services, drug and alcohol addiction services, and local authorities over the past decade and asked for long-term funding certainty.

Celebrated the success of the Everyone In programme in preventing 21,000 vulnerable people from contracting coronavirus. Asked if £10 million allocated to councils can be used to vaccinate those at risk or already sleeping rough against covid.

Highlighted the need for long-term funding beyond annual short-term programmes to address rough sleeping, urging support for real change at a local level and greater access to social housing.

Praised the Moses Project in Stockton for helping homeless individuals affected by addiction and saving lives. Emphasised the importance of charity sector involvement in tackling rough sleeping.

Critiqued the funding cuts to councils, asserting that Hull City Council's increase in rough sleepers is a result of underfunding by £2 billion from the Government since 2010.

Complimented Bradford Council for its local schemes providing accommodation for those at risk of sleeping rough. Asked the Secretary of State to commend the work done by Project 6 and Homeless Not Hopeless in his constituency.

Expressed concern over poor-quality supported housing leading homeless individuals back onto the streets. Inquired about updates on supported housing pilots and oversight of the sector to prevent such situations.

Praised Westminster City Council for a 27% decrease in rough sleeping but called for repeal of the Vagrancy Act, which she considers outdated. Asked for a meeting with Crisis and other organisations to discuss new legislation addressing modern reasons for homelessness.

Congratulates the Secretary of State but raises concerns about Prospect Housing’s exempt accommodation closing in Birmingham due to safeguarding issues, affecting 1,600 vulnerable people. Asks what will be done to ensure these individuals do not end up homeless.

States he will look into the case raised by Steve McCabe. Acknowledges concerning evidence about some providers of supported housing and mentions work being done on a tighter regulatory environment if necessary. Praises Birmingham council for its efforts, noting only 17 rough sleepers in a large city like Birmingham.

Suspends the House for two minutes to allow for arrangements to be made for the next business following the Secretary of State's statement.