Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alison McGovern and Patrick Hurley

Monday 24th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

2. If he will take steps through the planned homelessness strategy to increase Housing First provision.

[The Minister for Local Government and Homelessness (Alison McGovern)]

Our homelessness strategy will be published soon. Our overall goal will be to prevent homelessness before it starts, saving people from trauma and saving taxpayers the cost of failure. Councils can use our homelessness funding flexibly to meet those needs, including by commissioning Housing First services, which evidence has shown can transform the lives of people with complex needs.

[Patrick Hurley]

Housing First is a tried and tested, proven intervention to reach those who most need our help, so will the Minister expand on what plans she has to roll out Housing First, especially in the Liverpool city region, to ensure that we work effectively across state agencies and that we support people experiencing homelessness into stable, long-term housing?

[Alison McGovern]

I thank my hon. Friend, who has a long-standing record of campaigning for those who have experienced rough sleeping or homelessness. Housing First, as we have discussed, is one way that areas can provide person-centred and trauma-informed support for people with complex needs, which is important in preventing long-term rough sleeping. Areas across England can use flexible funding, including our £255 million rough sleeping prevention and recovery grant, to do so. The Liverpool city region combined authority, which includes his constituency of Southport, received nearly £4 million of funding through the grant this year.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alison McGovern and Patrick Hurley

Monday 7th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Alison McGovern]

I thank my hon. Friend again for her very welcome point. Housing associations are extremely important for connecting with residents, who often have multiple vulnerabilities. When thinking about the journey into work we need joined up services between the NHS, the local authority and our housing associations. They will be a part of the future partnership, and I look forward to working with her for her constituency.

[Patrick Hurley (Southport) (Lab)]

11. What recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of Jobcentre Plus in helping people get back into work.