Government Guidance on Covid-19: Our response

17 Mar 2020 02:52 PM

On Monday 16 March, the Government published COVID-19 guidance for hostel and day centre services for people experiencing rough sleeping.

Rick Henderson, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, comments: “This is common sense, practical advice, but in several key areas it fails to provide the strong and detailed steer needed by those working in frontline services supporting people sleeping rough. Urgent action as well as clear accountability within local statutory services is needed to protect against huge fatalities among people who are homeless, and we look forward to seeing substantial guidance in the near future, to support and protect this community and those working with them.”

In particular, Homeless Link is calling for:

• Clearer guidance for outreach services on the important role of identifying and working with people with or at risk of the virus
• Stronger advice on how to create a route off the streets for people sleeping rough
• Critical advice, backed by action and resources, to ensure we can support people who will struggle to self-isolate i.e. because they have no access to basic facilities including food
• Reassurance that people with COVID-19 who are living on the streets will not face detention should the country be asked to go into wider self-isolation