Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Help for Rough Sleepers

Monday 7 March 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • We have committed more than 800 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping this year alone.
  • That includes the investment of 202 million through the rough sleeping initiative fund, which provides 14,500 bed spaces and approximately 2,700 staff throughout the country.
  • The Government trusts local councils and charities to provide a bespoke service based on local demands.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steve Brine Con
Housing
Context

The question arises in the context of ongoing efforts to address homelessness, focusing on immediate steps for accommodation.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help rough sleepers find accommodation. We have committed more than £800 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping this year alone. That includes the investment of £202 million through the rough sleeping initiative fund, which provides 14,500 bed spaces and approximately 2,700 staff throughout the country.

Answer from Eddie Hughes

We have committed more than £800 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping this year alone. That includes the investment of £202 million through the rough sleeping initiative fund, which provides 14,500 bed spaces and approximately 2,700 staff throughout the country. We are also helping people to find longer-term accommodation, including through the £433 million rough sleeping accommodation programme, which we expect to provide 6,000 new homes before the end of this Parliament.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Steve Brine Con
Housing
Context

The questioner highlights a specific local organization, Trinity Winchester, which provides comprehensive support to homeless individuals.

Question

Trinity Winchester is not just a homeless shelter or day centre for rough sleepers but provides practical and emotional support to people experiencing the effects of homelessness and vulnerability. Its new Bradbury View accommodation provides homes for people who are rough sleeping repeatedly. The model is unique and I am glad that the Secretary of State has agreed to visit Winchester as soon as we can fix that up—

Answer from Eddie Hughes

I guess that is the point: we need to legislate nationally and provide funding but trust local authorities, local areas and the excellent services of Trinity Winchester and others of that ilk to provide a bespoke service based on local demands. I am delighted that the Secretary of State is going to visit that scheme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly commit to providing additional funding or legislative support specific to Trinity Winchester's model, instead generally stating trust in local authorities and services.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Sarah Owen Lab Luton North
Housing
Context

The question refers to the Government's rough sleeping snapshot recording 2,440 people sleeping rough in the UK during autumn. The method of data collection is criticized for underreporting the true extent of homelessness.

Question

The Government's rough sleeping snapshot recorded 2,440 people sleeping rough throughout the whole UK in the autumn. Those who are not represented in the figures include people who slept on public transport, who found a bed in a night shelter, or who walked around at night and slept rough during the day. The reality of rough sleeping is far worse than the figures imply, so will the Minister tell me whether his Department is on track to deliver on its promise to truly end rough sleeping by 2024? If it is not, will it consider seizing the mansions of Russian oligarchs and putting those empty bedrooms to good use?

Answer from Eddie Hughes

To a degree, I understand part of the hon. Lady's point. It is clearly difficult to capture that information, which is why we trust local councils and charities to do it. We have the figures validated by Homeless Link. The hon. Lady may have missed the fact that we are publishing more data so that it will be available monthly and working with local councils to make sure that that data is used appropriately to reduce the number of rough sleepers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address whether the Department was on track to end rough sleeping by 2024 or if seizing assets from oligarchs would be considered.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)