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 ensure local authorities have the (a) responsibility, (b) funding and (c) guidance to provide (i) food, (ii) shelter and (iii) emotional support as part of the Government's (A) programme of response and recovery in response to the covid-19 outbreak and (B) planning for future emergencies.

My Department has been working closely with local councils and sector representing organisations throughout the response to this crisis to understand the challenges they face. We have a number of established engagement channels in place to help ensure effective communication.

We are providing local authorities with an unprecedented package of support, allocating £4.3billion of support for expenditure pressures, including £3.7 billion of un-ringfenced grants and the £600 million Infection Control Fund.

The Government announced up to £16 million to provide food for charities and other organisations supporting those who are struggling financially as a result of coronavirus.

£3.2 million in emergency funding for local authorities has also been announced to support vulnerable rough sleepers?. Nearly 15,000 vulnerable people have been housed in emergency accommodation, including hotels, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Building on this,?we?announced that Dame Louise Casey is spearheading a Taskforce to lead the next phase of the Government’s support for rough sleepers during this pandemic.

On 24 May, the?Secretary of State?announced?plans for thousands of long-term, safe homes?to support many of the?vulnerable rough sleepers who have been supported during the Covid-19 pandemic. This?unprecedented?commitment?– the biggest of its kind since the Government’s Rough Sleeping Initiative?began?– will be backed by?£160?million?in 2020/21 to inject 3,300 new units of accommodation?into the system over the following 12 months, part of?6,000 in total.

On 24?June?we ?announced that we are?providing local authorities with?a further?£105 million?to enable them?to?best?support those placed into emergency accommodation during the pandemic.