Homelessness: Rough Sleepers in London

Lord Sheldon Excerpts

Tuesday 30th October 2012 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Sheldon]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have to reduce the number of people sleeping on the streets of London.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham)]

My Lords, the Government are committed to tackling rough sleeping. We have provided £400 million over four years to prevent homelessness, including £34 million to the Greater London Authority to tackle rough sleeping across the capital. My department is also providing £5 million to London to set up a social impact bond to help 750 entrenched rough sleepers in London. The mayor’s No Second Night Out scheme has been particularly successful in helping new rough sleepers in London off the street quickly, and we are investing to roll out No Second Night Out nationally.

[Lord Sheldon]

My Lords, I have seen two sleepers in a local street in London and others are close by. There is a need to offer suitable beds so that people are not sleeping in streets in London.

[Baroness Hanham]

My Lords, the mayor’s No Second Night Out scheme is being very effective. There are more than 2,000 hostel places in London each night and there are teams out consistently during the night. We anticipate that 80% of those who sleep out one night do not sleep out the next night.