Cross-party report calls for government to take action on homelessness
The Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping has published its final report today, urging the government to act quickly and decisively to avoid a surge in rough sleeping.
The report warns that if action is not taken the government risks losing the progress made in the sector during the pandemic and will fail to achieve its key manifesto promise to end rough sleeping by 2024.
The independent commission analysed the cross-sector response to Covid-19 and the government’s ‘Everyone In’ initiative, which saw local authorities directed to move people who were sleeping rough into emergency accommodation to protect them from the virus.
The final report makes twelve key recommendations, including urging to the government to set out its overarching vision for tackling homelessness by developing a longer-term rough sleeping strategy, and maintaining the £20-a-week Universal Credit uplift, which is due to end.
The commission also calls on the government to increase joint working by all agencies by extending the Homelessness Reduction Act’s Duty to Refer to make it a Duty to Collaborate with relevant public agencies and ensure that the quality of accommodation provided to those who are homeless is safe and appropriate by introducing a Quality Assurance framework.
Commission Chair Lord Kerslake said: ‘The starting point for this report was learning from the success of the Everyone In initiative. What has emerged from the review is a comprehensive understanding of what it will take to bring an end to rough sleeping. The analysis has been fully endorsed and embraced by experts across the sector and the political spectrum which is I think unprecedented.
‘There is no single thing which can be done to end homelessness. It must be about both housing and health. What is needed is a series of actions covering prevention, early response, and new provision. If this is done, we know what can be achieved – we have seen it in action over the past 18 months. But without decisive and urgent action, backed with appropriate funding ‘Everyone In’ risks becoming a footnote in the history of the battle to end homelessness.
‘So many people are struggling financially, and the withdrawal of the pandemic support measures, coupled with the rise the cost of living risks a new surge in rough sleeping and homelessness. This is a pivotal moment. The Government can take positive action, follow these recommendations and maximise its opportunity to change the future not only for those who experienced homelessness during the pandemic, but for generations to come. Or it can delay, watch as homelessness surges again, and rue what could have been.’
Responding to the report, Cllr James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association, said: ‘Getting thousands of rough sleepers off the streets into safe accommodation at the start of the pandemic was an incredible achievement by councils, and this important report sets out key recommendations that can help to prevent a new wave of homelessness.
‘As we look to return to normality, it is essential we build on the success of the Everyone In initiative and make sure it is not just a one-off emergency response. Supporting those who are vulnerable can only succeed with sector-wide working at a local level, with health, housing associations and the voluntary sector working closely together.
‘Councils stand ready to work with government to realise its ambition of ending rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament. For that to happen, the Government must use the forthcoming Spending Review to announce a cross-departmental homelessness prevention strategy. This would need to see councils given the long-term funding required to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place, with welfare changes introduced in the pandemic maintained for as long as they are needed, including the Universal Credit uplift.’
The full report, entitled ‘A New Way of Working: Ending Rough Sleeping Together’, can be accessed here.
Photo by Nick Fewings