Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to extend their contracts with hotels and bed and breakfasts to offer temporary accommodation for those who require it until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Nearly 15,000 vulnerable people have been housed in emergency accommodation, including hotels, since the COVID-19 emergency began. This includes people coming in directly from the streets, people previously housed in shared night shelters and people who have become vulnerable to rough sleeping during the pandemic.
The Government asked Dame Louise Casey to?spearhead a specialist taskforce to lead the next phase of the Government’s support for rough sleepers during the pandemic. The taskforce will work hand-in-hand with councils across the country on plans to ensure rough sleepers can move into long-term, safe accommodation once the immediate crisis is over – ensuring as few people as possible return to life on the streets.
We announced on 24 May radical plans to provide thousands of long-term, safe homes for vulnerable rough sleepers taken off the streets during this pandemic. This ambitious commitment will be backed by £160 million this year through accelerating plans for the £381 million announced for rough sleeping services at Budget, bringing the total to £433 million over the lifetime of this parliament. This funding will ensure that 6,000 new housing units will be put into the system, with 3,300 units of this accommodation becoming available in the next 12 months.
We are working intensively with local authorities to design plans for next steps which includes consideration of the role of hotels. We continue to explore this and are working with national organisations to do so, alongside councils.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with religious authorities about opening places of worship for (1) personal private devotions, (2) formal services, and (3) funerals and weddings, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government has been working closely with all major faith groups on a wide variety of issues relating to its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this engagement will continue.
The Faith Minister has held meetings with Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu faith leaders and representatives since the outbreak. Officials also maintain regular contact with Faith leaders across all major faiths, ensuring the Government is responding to issues relating to COVID-19 as they arise.
This engagement will continue at both ministerial and official level as the Government looks to lift restrictions, as outlined in the recovery strategy – “Our Plan to Rebuild”, which was launched on 11 May can be found (attached) here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/884760/Our_plan_to_rebuild_The_UK_Government_s_COVID-19_recovery_strategy.pdf. As the document makes clear in Step 3, the Government’s ambition is to open places of worship; the current assumption is that this Step will be no earlier than 4 July.
As part of the recovery strategy, the Government has launched a Taskforce to look at the possible re-opening of places of worship. The Taskforce will be led by the Secretary of State for Communities, or the Faith Minister, and comprise of representatives from the country’s major faiths. The aim of the Taskforce is to work towards the safe reopening of places of worship, including for private devotions, services and ceremonies like funerals and weddings.?It will?address the?specific?issues that places of worship face?in the course of?reopening safely.
Places of worship are essential in bringing our communities together, which is why we want to reopen them as soon as we can. However, we will not compromise the safety of those who visit and work at our places of worship. The Government’s priority is to protect the public and save lives. We are committed to ensuring our faith communities have access to the latest public health advice, and to support them to adapt their practices in line with the Government’s COVID-19 guidance.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to local authorities to prepare communities to readjust following the end of the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
We understand that local authorities know better than anyone the needs of local people, and that they are trying incredibly hard to balance the need to maintain services alongside wider responsibilities for the health and wellbeing of residents.
Ministers and officials have led regular engagement with local authorities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes dedicated Government Liaison Officers, support through Local Resilience Forums, and £3.2bn of additional funding – the details of which can be found (attached) here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-confirms-allocations-of-1-6-billion-funding-boost-for-councils
The Government will continue to work closely with local authorities over the coming weeks and months to ensure they are managing as the pandemic progresses and we have a collective understanding of the costs they are facing.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration, if any, they have given to using the former RAF Sealand station to accommodate homeless people and others in need of temporary housing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
We do not currently have any specific plans to use RAF Sealand to accommodate homeless people during the Covid-19 pandemic but we are exploring all options, working closely with colleagues across Government, including the Ministry of Defence.
Over 90% of those on the streets and in communal night shelters known to local authorities at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis have now been made offers of safe accommodation – ensuring some of the most vulnerable in society are protected from the pandemic.
Councils across England will receive another £1.6 billion in additional funding as they continue to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic. With this funding councils can provide support to those who need it most. This takes the total funding to support councils to respond to the pandemic to over £3.2 billion. This is in addition to £3.2 million in targeted funding to ensure that we minimise the risk to those currently unable to self-isolate.
In addition, we have been working with the Greater London Authority and a number of hotel chains across the country to secure accommodation for rough sleepers and we have now introduced a centrally coordinated process across Government for block booking hotels.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place to provide care for rough sleepers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
We have been working with the Greater London Authority and a number of hotel chains across the country to secure accommodation for rough sleepers and we have now introduced a centrally coordinated process across Government for block booking hotels.
Over 90% of those on the streets and in communal night shelters known to local authorities at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis have now been made offers of safe accommodation – ensuring some of the most vulnerable in society are protected from the pandemic.
This response is backed by £3.2 billion of additional funding for local authorities to enable them to respond to COVID-19 pressures across the services they deliver. This is in addition to £3.2 million in targeted funding to ensure that we minimise the risk to those currently unable to self-isolate.
The Government has made clear that no one should be without a roof over their head and this funding further demonstrates our commitment to assist the most vulnerable in society.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to make sure that the homeless have facilities to wash and eat.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
The Government is working intensively with councils and the sector to help get those who are sleeping rough off the streets and into appropriate accommodation.
This is backed by £1.6 billion of additional funding for local authorities to enable them to respond to other COVID-19 pressures across services they deliver including for those who are homeless.
Public Health England have also published guidance for those working in hostel and day centre environments to ensure these vital services can continue to operate safely during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to make sure there are enough people working in hostels for the homeless.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
The Government announced support for key workers to enable them to carry out their vital role and that staff delivering statutory homelessness services as well as staff delivering outreach, supported housing and other key frontline services for homeless people are included within the definition of key workers.
We are working intensively with councils and the sector to help get those who are sleeping rough off the streets and into appropriate accommodation.
This is backed by £1.6 billion of additional funding for local authorities to enable them to respond to other COVID-19 pressures across services they deliver including for those who are homeless.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were (1) counted, and (2) estimated, as sleeping rough in England the last time that those figures were recorded.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
This Government is clear that no one should be without a roof over their head. That is why we have committed to end?rough?sleeping?by the end of this Parliament and to enforce the Homelessness Reduction Act.
My Department's latest?official?annual Rough Sleeping?Snapshot?Statistics, published on 27 February 2020, provide information about the estimated number of people sleeping rough across local authorities in England on a single night.?
The number of people counted and estimated as sleeping rough in England on a single night in Autumn 2019 is given in the table below:
Approach | Number of local authorities | % of local authorities | Estimated count |
Count | 78 | 25 | 2079 |
Estimate | 239 | 75 | 2187 |
Total | 317 | 100 | 4266 |
In 2020/2021 the Government is providing £492 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. This marks a £124 million increase in funding from the previous year and will go towards funding important programmes such as the Rough Sleeping Initiative, Homelessness Reduction Grant and Flexible Homelessness Support Grant.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many rough sleepers there are in England.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
My Department’s latest?official?annual Rough Sleeping?Snapshot?Statistics published on 27 February 2020 provide information about the estimated number of people sleeping rough across local authorities in England on a single night in Autumn.
There were 4,266 people estimated to be sleeping rough across England on a single night in Autumn 2019. This is down by 411 people or 9% from last year and down 10% from the peak in 2017.
These statistics are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rough-sleeping-snapshot-in-england-autumn-2019.
This Government is clear that no one should be without a roof over their head. That is why we have committed to end?rough?sleeping?by the end of this Parliament and to enforce the Homelessness Reduction Act.
In 2020/2021 the Government is providing £492 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. This marks a £124 million increase in funding from the previous year and will go towards funding important programmes such as the Rough Sleeping Initiative, Homelessness Reduction Grant and Flexible Homelessness Support Grant.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to provide COVID-19-related treatment and support to people sleeping rough.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
The Government recognises the challenges faced by those who are homeless or sleeping rough during the Covid-19 outbreak. We are working closely with local authorities and the sector to minimise the risk for vulnerable people and those currently unable to self-isolate.
As an initial first step we have announced £3.2 million in emergency funding for local authorities to help rough sleepers and those at risk of sleeping rough to self-isolate. This funding will assist local authorities with providing accommodation and support to vulnerable people who are at risk of, or who have been diagnosed with, Covid-19.?Further details of this fund can be found at gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/3-2-million-emergency-support-for-rough-sleepers-during-coronavirus-outbreak
Additional funding of £1.6 billion will go to local authorities to enable them to respond to other Covid-19 pressures, including increasing support for the adult social care workforce and for services helping the most vulnerable, including homeless people.