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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the impact of the no recourse to public funds policy on homelessness levels; and if he will make a statement.

The Government wants to ensure that local areas have the tools they need to support rough sleepers, including non-UK nationals with restricted eligibility, off the street.

We do not collect data on immigration status but do collect information on the nationality of those on the street. The latest Annual Rough Sleeping Snapshot figures for autumn 2021 showed that 25% (610 people) of those sleeping rough on a single night were from outside the UK. We also collect monthly management information about the support for people sleeping rough which showed that as at the end of December 2021, 33% (1590 people) of those in emergency and short-term accommodation were from outside the UK.

We have committed £2 billion over the next three years to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and the Government has been clear that this funding can be used to help anyone, including those with restricted eligibility, as long as the local authority is acting within the law in doing so.

Through the Rough Sleeping Initiative, we have provided over £200 million to local authorities to provide tailored local interventions for rough sleepers in their area. As part of this funding, local authorities can bid for support for individuals to determine or resolve their immigration status.

We remain clear that councils and partners should exhaust all options within the law to support those who are unable to access statutory homelessness assistance as a result of their immigration status and to ensure everyone has a route off the street, including those with an No Recourse to Public Funds condition.