Andy Burnham has made it clear that a primary mission of his government is to address the most visible elements of a broken housing system: rough sleeping. The government has launched a new Rough Sleeping Programme to reflect this intention, along with guidance for the sector.
This mission has been backed up by a £442 million package to provide accommodation and support, a pledge to have everybody off the streets by Christmas, and the emphasis that this cannot be achieved alone and will require local leadership, with the housing and homelessness sectors, businesses and civil society all working together. The Prime Minister has also shown his personal commitment to solving this problem by donating 15% of his Prime Minister’s salary to homelessness charities, whilst 15% of his Member of Parliament salary for Makerfield is pledged to support local causes.
This Rough Sleeping Programme represents a significant and welcome intervention into the most visible part of our homelessness crisis. It is particularly good in its recognition that more than a roof is needed to end this form of homelessness, with a significant focus on stable and long-term support backed by revenue funding.
The guidance reflects evidence and best practice undertaken by national and international approaches to end homelessness, in particular its championing of Housing First principles and the ambition to increase coordinated partnership working. We welcome signals that multiple sectors and agencies must step up to deliver this programme, such as adult social care and the voluntary sector. However, government departments beyond MHCLG must visibly demonstrate their commitment to the programme to secure the success of its ambition.
Important questions remain regarding the wider housing system, in particular the pressure on local authorities who are facing a number of other deadlines and changes whilst being expected to implement the programme. Local authorities will therefore need support to deliver it alongside other initiatives such as local government reorganisation, supported housing strategies and homelessness action plans. The programme aims for identified move-on pathways for those ineligible for the settled accommodation pathway, but more must be done to address housing availability and affordability to achieve this.
The private rented sector remains unaffordable to many and, without Local Housing Allowance being aligned with real rents, this route is unlikely to provide settled accommodation to move into. Social housing is scarce and many of the people supported by this programme may need supported housing provision, which may be inaccessible via housing registers. Local authorities and registered providers must be supported to bring homes forward to provide appropriate long-term housing options.
There must be investment in the skills, capacity and specialisms required to achieve the programme’s proposed outcomes, including supporting those organisations who will be supporting individuals and working with partners to deliver long-term housing options.
We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment and investment to build a nation where everyone has a place to call home and a chance move on from homelessness.
