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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