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New goal to end rough sleeping

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT News Release (272) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 18 November 2008

A major new drive to end rough sleeping by 2012 was announced by the Government today.

Rough sleeping numbers have been driven down over the last decade and have stayed down due to concerted efforts across Government, the voluntary sector and community action, but the Government is calling on everyone to go even further and help end rough sleeping for good.

Ministers today said that it is not acceptable for people still to be sleeping rough in the 21st century and announced a new action plan developed with leading homelessness charities to prevent rough sleeping, and to support those already there to rebuild their lives away from the streets.

The plan is backed by an allocation of £200 million, and includes new measures such as:

* Increasing the options available to single people at risk of rough sleeping including help with deposits for renting a home and more supported lodgings.

* Expanding street rescue support teams run by charities and encouraging greater use of a 24 hour phone line for members of the public to get help to rough sleepers they are concerned about.

* Working with those on the streets and those coming off to put together personal achievable action plans, to help them back into housing and employment.

* Charities, businesses and Government will work more closely in new and innovative ways to help rough sleepers off the street and into employment.

* New action across Government departments to make sure people don't fall between different aspects of the support network. On health for example, this will be mean better healthcare access for the homeless.

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett said:

"We have achieved much in tackling rough sleeping and homelessness over the last ten years, but it's time for us all to say rough sleeping in 21st Century Britain is unacceptable.

"This strategy is not just about getting someone a bed for the night, it's also about preventing rough sleeping in the first place, recognising the needs of each individual and offering them genuine opportunities and support to get their lives back on track."

Homelessness Minister Iain Wright said:

"When we walk down a street and see a figure in a sleeping bag huddled in a doorway, it reminds us there is more to do. I know it can be done and working together we shall achieve our goal. We can all do our bit, and whether we get involved on the ground or simply show more compassion for those in need, we can look back on rough sleeping as something that used to happen, not something that does happen.

"I know these are tough times and that this is a tough challenge but it's easy to say something can't be done, let's show what can be done."

The latest street count figures indicate 483 rough sleepers across the country on any given night, a sustained reduction of two thirds from its base line figure of 1850 in 1997, but the Minister said this is not enough.

The New Action Plan has been developed with leading rough sleeping charities and will use action, advice and assistance across England to prevent the flow of people onto the streets, as well as support those already there to get off the streets into stability.

Jenny Edwards, chief executive of Homeless Link, the national umbrella organisation for homelessness charities, said:

"This is an important moment for our country. Britain is already seen to be leading the way in tackling the issue of rough sleeping, so we are delighted that the new strategy sets out to end this social evil once and for all. Working together we will close the door into homelessness in every local community. Working together let's go for gold on social justice and consign to history the distressing sight of people huddled in doorways by the time the Olympics come to Britain in 2012. We can achieve the goal and inspire the world to follow our lead."

Leslie Morphy, Chief Executive of Crisis said:

"In 21st Century Britain it is a scandal that people still sleep on our streets and we are therefore delighted that the Government has committed to the ambition of putting rough sleeping to bed for good by 2012.

"We warmly welcome the package of measures announced today, many of which we, and others in the sector, have been campaigning for over the last year. In particular, we are delighted to see a commitment to consider changes to the statutory safety net for those at risk of rough sleeping, alongside increased prevention work and greater availability of alternative housing options to stop people from ending up on the streets in the first place.

"In the current economic crisis, with people losing their homes and jobs and facing potential homelessness, it is more important than ever that the Government takes action to end rough sleeping and we look forward to working with them in delivering this new strategy."

Notes to editors

The new measures in the plan backed by £200 million of allocated investment include:

1) Preventing people ending up on the streets in the first place through options such as making rent deposits and supported lodgings more widely available to vulnerable groups. The Government will expand the options available to single people at risk of rough sleeping.

2) Swift action to support those on the streets through strengthening outreach services. The strategy draws on the experience of success stories such as street rescue and assertive outreach, providing rapid responses to rough sleepers. Some charities and local authorities operate a 24hr helpline to enable members of the public to phone in if they are concerned about a rough sleepers and the strategy will encourage more local authorities to put similar measures in place where appropriate.

3) Working with those on the streets and those coming off to put together personal achievable action plans. These will identify short term needs and goals for each person and outline a plan of how to get there and stay there, offering practical advice and support to enable them to rebuild their lives.

4) New action across Government departments to make sure people don't fall between different aspects of the support network. On health, this will be mean better healthcare access for the homeless and a joined up approach to services, for example a rough sleeper will be discharged from hospital during times when local housing services are open and available - a small change that can mean the difference between bedding down outside or a bed inside.

5) Charities, businesses and Government will work more closely in new and innovative ways to help rough sleepers off the street and into employment. The Government has put £170m into hostels to transform them into places of opportunity, where ex homeless people can learn new skills or brush up on existing ones. The Minister will announce a further £2.5m for social enterprise start up scheme Spark where charities and homeless individuals receive business training and advice from corporate partners such as PWC and BT.

6) As part of preventing people becoming homeless in the first place we have already taken action to help protect the most vulnerable families from repossession, including a new court protocol to make sure lenders are taking all steps possible before making a claim in the courts, and a £200 million mortgage rescue scheme to help people remain in their homes. We have also expanded free legal representation in county courts for households at risk of repossession, provided more free debt advice and will continue to work closely with lenders to look at what more we can do.

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