More decisive action needed to tackle rough sleeping warns charity

The government has announced millions of pounds in funding to help rough sleepers off the street.

The new Rough Sleeping Initiative allocations totalling £34.6 million will go to areas most in need of support to help get people off the street more quickly.

However, one charity warns that this funding is not enough and spiralling rents and chronic undersupply will continue to leave people without a place to live.

Government committed to ending rough sleeping

Homelessness minister Felicity Buchan says the government are committed to ending rough sleeping. She says £34.6 million will be invested in providing 4,300 additional beds and 630 more support staff across 84 areas in England experiencing the greatest rough sleeping pressures.

Ms Buchan said: “One year on from the launch of our ground-breaking strategy we remain as committed as ever to ending rough sleeping.

“The full weight of government remains behind this very important pledge, and this can be seen in today’s funding boost to provide thousands more beds and hundreds more support staff into the heart of communities where they are most needed.”

Soaring rents and huge demand for properties

The charity Crisis says while the funding is welcomed more decisive action needs to be taken.

Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, said: “While it’s positive to see the government providing funding to support people sleeping rough, it is the bare minimum of what’s required.

“All forms of homelessness are increasing. A combination of rising living costs, soaring rents and huge demand for properties is leaving households across Britain unable to find or keep an affordable home.

“To tackle rough sleeping for good, we need to see decisive action that prevents people from losing their homes in the first place – this includes urgent investment in housing benefit so it covers the cheapest of rents.”

Mr Downie added that the government must focus on tackling homelessness and help provide more affordable homes.

He said: “The emphasis must be on tackling rather than ‘managing’ homelessness. Truly affordable homes, rather than beds, are desperately needed – without this, people who are helped off the streets run the risk of being forced to return as there is simply nowhere affordable for them to live long-term.”