The UK government has announced a £442m funding package aimed at helping everyone sleeping rough in England move off the streets by Christmas.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the funding would provide emergency accommodation as well as housing, health and other practical support to people experiencing rough sleeping.
The announcement comes one month after Burnham made ending rough sleeping his first instruction as Prime Minister.
According to the Home Office, the funding will provide immediate routes off the streets while supporting people to transition into more permanent accommodation. The government said the £442m package would be financed from uncommitted funds within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Burnham also announced plans for a national summit in the autumn involving representatives from businesses, financial institutions, charities, health organisations and faith groups to explore how different sectors can contribute to ending rough sleeping.
He said no one should have to sleep in doorways or outside train stations, adding that the government successfully moved people off the streets during the COVID-19 pandemic and could repeat the effort.
More than 1,000 homes planned
The government said the programme will provide more than 1,000 settled homes over the next three years, alongside intensive support for people experiencing long-term homelessness.
Areas under the greatest pressure will receive more funding, while local councils and mayors will determine how the programme is implemented in their communities.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said the funding would help thousands of people leave the streets, secure permanent homes and access support to rebuild their lives.
The government has also issued guidance to local authorities to help them quickly provide routes off the streets this winter.
The guidance places particular emphasis on women who sleep rough, noting that they may be underrepresented in official statistics and face heightened risks of violence, abuse and exploitation.
Local authorities have been encouraged to consider single-sex accommodation and specialist, trauma-informed support for women affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Charities welcome funding
The homelessness charity Crisis described the announcement as a potential historic step towards ending rough sleeping in England.
Its chief executive, Matt Downie, said people sleeping rough face increased exposure to illness, violence and abuse, adding that helping them move into secure homes could save lives.
The government said £8.4m from the package would go to the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund. This brings the total funding for 100 projects to £47m over three years, supporting small and medium-sized charities and community organisations working with homeless people or those at risk of homelessness.
St Mungo’s chief executive, Dr Emma Haddad, described the announcement as a pivotal moment, while Big Issue co-founder Lord Bird welcomed the Christmas target and compared it with the approach used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bird, however, warned that people should not simply be moved into temporary accommodation for a short period before being returned to the streets.
Centrepoint chief executive Seyi Obakin also welcomed the funding, describing it as a significant financial commitment to the government’s pledge.
Other homelessness organisations, including Homeless Link, Single Homeless Project and Solace, also welcomed the additional funding and the specific focus on women experiencing rough sleeping.
The £442m package consists of £340m announced in July to provide settled accommodation for people experiencing long-term rough sleeping, alongside an additional £102m announced on Wednesday for immediate emergency accommodation and further support.
The government said the measures are designed to provide emergency housing this winter while expanding long-term accommodation and support for people experiencing homelessness.
