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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to ensure that local authorities can adequately support the increasing number of young people who are sleeping rough in winter 2020-21.

This Government is committed to ending rough sleeping. We have taken huge steps working with local authorities and their partners to protect rough sleepers during the pandemic and through the winter.

The Protect programme, in particular, is backed by £15 million and will help areas that need additional support most during the restrictions and throughout winter. It builds on the success of ‘Everyone In’, which is ongoing and has so far helped to protect thousands of lives during the pandemic. By September it had supported over 29,000 people; with over 10,000 in emergency accommodation and nearly 19,000 moved on into settled accommodation.

We have also announced additional support over the winter period including the £10 million Cold Weather Fund and £2 million Transformation Fund.

All councils have been asked to update their rough sleeping plans and to carry out a rapid assessment of need for everyone they accommodate and to consider time limited interventions for those new to rough sleeping.

We have bespoke support for local authorities through our Homelessness Advice and Support Team, which includes dedicated youth homelessness advisors that have a commitment to work with local authorities to promote positive joint working across housing authorities and children’s services, offering training, advice and support to all local authorities.