New commission on homelessness launches

An independent commission to examine and learn lessons from the emergency response which supported people sleeping rough during the pandemic has been launched.

The Kerslake Commission on Homeless and Rough Sleeping aims to help all agencies involved in supporting those who are sleeping rough to understand what worked during the pandemic and what lessons could be learned.

It will be chaired by the former head of the civil service, Lord Bob Kerslake.

The commission’s advisory board is made up of 16 members and includes representative from local and national government, the charity sector, housing associations and the health service, and importantly, people who have experienced homelessness themselves.

Members include Lord Victor Adebowale the Chair of the NHS Confederation, Nickie Aiken MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, Bob Blackman MP, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Homelessness, and Andy Burnham the Mayor of Greater Manchester.

‘By general consent Everyone In was a terrific success which made a real and tangible difference to the lives of some of society’s most vulnerable members,’ said Lord Kerslake. ‘What I want to do through this commission is to look at how we can build on this for the future.

‘It is an opportunity to learn, and share learning across the public sector, the health sector as well as local and central government. And if we can do that, we will have done something really valuable for this country,’ he added.

St Mungo’s, which has so far helped more than 4,000 people into emergency accommodation since the first lockdown, is providing the secretariat function to the commission.

‘A year ago this week saw the start of Everyone In, the public health emergency response to ensure that everyone sleeping on the street was provided with secure and safe accommodation, and the support that they needed,’ said charity chief executive, Steve Douglas.

‘Since then we have seen an unprecedented effort from charities, frontline service providers, health and social services, local and central government to help people move away from sleeping rough for good.’

Photo Credit – Pixabay