COVID-19 and homelessness: actions for Government

25 Mar 2020 10:24 AM

People experiencing homelessness are amongst the most vulnerable to life-threatening COVID-19 and our members are describing crisis conditions in the services dedicated to supporting them. Government must step up now to protect our vital services by taking the actions we outline below. 

Homelessness services across England have already demonstrated remarkable innovation and resilience in their rapid response to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting the people they support.   

However, our sector is struggling and is in danger of collapse. Some vital services have already had to close their doors.  

People experiencing homelessness are among the most vulnerable in our communities to contracting life-threatening COVID-19. Government must step up now to protect them by taking the urgent actions below. 

These demands echo those issued by accomodation providers and other major homelessness charities in recent days. We support their calls and stand ready to support local and national government as this unprecedented crisis develops. 

1. Protect and support people experiencing homelessness  

1.1 Remove legal barriers to accessing self-contained accommodation for people facing homelessnessLegal conditions on assistance are preventing the implementation of public health advice. Government should suspend all legal barriers in place, including, as a priority, a suspension of no recourse to public funds conditions and of any local authority data-sharing with the Home Office for the purpose of immigration enforcement. With current global travel restrictions, this is vital to ensure that everyone can access the support they need to keep them and all our communities safe. 

1.2 Increase access to self-contained accommodation so that people facing homelessness can self-isolate. We welcome plans for hotels to make accommodation available to homelessness services. National coordination is needed to implement these plans and extra provision must be made available for appropriate floating support.  

Government should also work with local authorities and housing providers to repurpose unused accommodation, such as obsolete sheltered housing and keyworker schemes, and consider legislative options for bringing empty homes into use.    

1.3 Ensure that homeless people most at risk have rapid access to testingCommissioned outreach teams should engage in active case finding on the streets and in hostel and night shelter accommodation. People presenting to homelessness services should be immediately triaged based on testing.  

2. Enable homelessness services to operate effectively and respond safely  

2.1 Urgently provide PPE, hygiene supplies and testing. Our members have reported shortages of masks, hand sanitiser, toilet paper, disposable thermometer tips, over-the-counter painkillers and cleaning products. In the absence of community testing, homelessness workers should be prioritised alongside NHS workers and others working to support the most vulnerable.  

2.2 Offer an emergency grant fund for homelessness services. As fundraising income dries up, frontline homelessness services’ incomes will plummet. A rapid and flexible emergency grant fund is required to support homelessness organisations to adapt, reorganise and respond effectively to the demands placed on them.  

2.3 Provide bloc payments of Housing Benefit to accommodation providers in advance, rather than requiring monthly returnsMaking three-month bloc payments of Housing Benefit in advance would support the financial viability of critical homelessness services and enable the reduced workforce to prioritise their response to COVID-19 over administrative tasks. 

3. Prevent further homelessness as a result of COVID-19  

3.1 Follow through on promises for a complete ban on evictions from social and private rented housing. Less than a week after a ‘complete ban on evictions’ was promised, commitments were watered down to a 1-month extension of possession notice periods for assured and assured shorthold tenancies, not applicable to cases where possession proceedings have already begun. We’re calling on Government to stick to their original promise and urgently legislate for the suspension of Housing Act 1985 ground one evictions, as well as Housing Act 1988 section 8 and 21 evictions.  

3.2 Provide Universal Credit advance payments on a grant basis. During the 5-week wait for UC, advances should be given as a grant, not a loan, to relieve claimants of an immediate debt burden and risk of homelessness due to rent arrears.  

3.3 Suspend Universal Credit deductions and sanctions Given the current risks and difficulties associated with work-related activities, the work search requirement should be suspended and all deductions for those who are self-isolating or no longer working due to the pandemic should be suspended. 

For more information on Homeless Link’s recommendations, or to report how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting your service and clients, please get in touch with Jennie.Corbett@homelesslink.org.uk or Sue.Christoforou@homelesslink.org.uk