Homelessness

(asked on 17th November 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support rough sleepers and other people experiencing homelessness in winter 2020-21.


Answered by
Kelly Tolhurst Portrait
Kelly Tolhurst
This question was answered on 25th November 2020

As we move into the winter months, we recognise the upcoming challenges that local authorities are facing as a result of the pandemic.

The ‘Protect Programme’, the next step in the ongoing targeted support to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our communities from COVID-19, was announced by the Prime Minister on Thursday 5 November.

This scheme will provide a further £15 million to support the ongoing efforts to provide accommodation for rough sleepers during the pandemic. This programme will help areas that need additional support most during the restrictions and throughout winter and is on top of the previously announced £10 million Cold Weather Fund for all councils, giving local areas the tools they need to protect people from life-threatening cold weather and the risks posed by COVID-19.

This builds on the success of the still ongoing ‘Everyone In’ campaign, which is helping to protect thousands of lives during the pandemic - by September it had supported over 29,000 vulnerable people, with over 10,000 in emergency accommodation and nearly 19,000 provided with settled accommodation or move on support.

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