ROUGH SLEEPERS will be offered 6,000 new homes after the coronavirus crisis.
The government will spend £433million on safe accommodation for those who have been taken off the streets during the pandemic.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said today: “Some people will need help to return to the private rental sector, but others will need accommodation to be provided so that they can start to rebuild their lives.
“That’s why 6,000 new supported homes will be made available for rough sleepers, providing safe accommodation for people we’ve helped off the streets during the pandemic.
“The Government is backing this effort with £433 million to fast track the safe accommodation desperately needed to ensure as few rough sleepers as possible return to the streets.
“3,300 of these new homes will become available in the next 12 months, and £160 million will be spent this year to deliver that.”
Mr Jenrick added that health support will be available for those who need the homes.
Last month the government said nine in ten homeless people have been offered accommodation since the end of March.
Councils have found a home for over 90 per cent of rough sleepers known to them at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
‘IT’S NOT OVER’
A specialist taskforce was created to lead the next phase of the Government’s support for the homeless during the crisis.
But Head of the taskforce Dame Louise Casey warned today that “the pandemic is not over” and vulnerable people must still be protected.
“For homeless people the task was to bring as many people in off the streets and out of communal shelters,” she told the Downing Street press conference.
“The goal was to protect rough sleepers from the virus, give them the chance to self-isolate and ultimately therefore do the best we can to save their lives.”
She praised the “absolutely extraordinary response” from charities and businesses which helped house “close to 15,000 people across England”.
“It has been a heartening example of what we can do when we need to do it, and the best of Britain in this time of crisis.”
Mr Jenrick said: “Working hand in hand with charities and local councils, we offered accommodation to over 90% of rough sleepers known to us at the start in order to help them to stay safe during the pandemic.
“I want to thank everyone who’s been involved in this huge national effort. Thousands of lives have been protected because of your work,” he said.
