Industry News


NHF calls for protection of homelessness services from decommissioning


T


he National Housing Federation has written to the homelessness minister, Felicity Buchan, about the amount of


homelessness accommodation spaces currently at risk of closure due to a crisis in local government funding. Te letter calls on the Government to


boost and ringfence funding for supported housing, to protect homeless services commissioned by local authorities. Several councils are considering proposals to


withdraw funding from housing associations, who deliver supported accommodation for people facing homelessness, due to financial pressures facing local authorities. A Local Government Association survey late last


year found that one in five council leaders think it is likely they will have to issue a Section 114 notice, effectively declaring bankruptcy, either this year or next. Birmingham and Nottingham council have already issued Section 114 notices, placing their non-statutory supported accommodation contracts at risk. Now, county councils are not required to fund


homelessness support services, but more than half in England do through their commitment to reduce health inequalities. If these proposals are not prevented through


increased and ringfenced government funding, over 250 homes for people who are homeless may


Now, county councils are not required to fund homelessness support services, but more than half in England do through their commitment to reduce health inequalities


be lost across the country. Tis would put residents, and those facing homelessness at risk of rough sleeping and increase the burden on social care and NHS services. Te evidence shows that increasing and


ringfencing this funding will also save money. Research by Imogen Blood & Associates, commissioned by the National Housing Federation, found that the average cost per person of supported accommodation was £21,000 per person per year, whereas allowing a person to remain homeless for a long period of time cost £43,000 per person per year. In addition to the National Housing Federation,


Homeless Link, and the Local Government Association, the letter was also co-signed by the Chartered Institute of Housing, Centrepoint,


Rethink Mental Illness, Crisis, Shelter, the National Care Forum, and the Rural Homelessness Counts Coalition. Te group say that to reduce homelessness


and end child homelessness by 2035, the Government must commit to a long-term plan to fix the housing crisis, which should include a commitment to long term, ring fenced and increased funding for supported housing and support services.


Funding to help hundreds of rough sleepers off streets


Hundreds of rough sleepers should be helped off the streets and into long term settled accommodation thanks to over £17m of new Government funding. Te money has been given to local authorities


across England most in need so they can provide more bed spaces for people who are sleeping rough this winter and more long-term secure accommodation. London boroughs including Hammersmith,


Lambeth and Greenwich collectively received over £3m. Nottingham City Council received over £400,000, Bristol City Council over £300,000 and Hastings & Eastbourne Borough Councils almost £250,000. Whether this is sufficient to help these hard


pressed councils to fully clear their backlogs of cases remains to be seen, but it will be warmly


welcomed by those working with homeless people on the streets. Tis new money brings the total funding for


the Rough Sleeping Initiative to over £547m and forms part of a wider package of support backed by over £2bn of Government funding over three years. Tis includes helping individuals find work, manage their finances and access mental and physical health services. Minister for rough sleeping, Felicity Buchan


said: “As the cold weather continues this winter, our mission to help people off the streets is even more urgent. We are determined to deliver our manifesto pledge to end rough sleeping and today’s announcement demonstrates our continuing commitment to supporting the most vulnerable in our society with access to a safe and warm home, backed by over £2bn of government funding


over three years.” “Te winter period is particularly high-risk for


individuals who are sleeping rough, increasing the demand for immediate ‘off the street’ accommodation so the funding package includes £4m available to local authorities facing the greatest pressures in rough sleeping in England.” Meanwhile over 1,000 people have been housed


through the Housing First Pilots in Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands Combined Authority, providing long term housing for the homeless. Te scheme has reported that the vast majority


using the scheme (92%) found a home within a year and said they feel safer, less likely to be a victim of crime and less likely to be involved in antisocial behaviour. Te Government has a manifesto commitment


to end rough sleeping by the end of this Parliament. Tis means rough sleeping is prevented wherever possible and, where it cannot be prevented, it is a rare, brief and non- recurring experience.


www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMMFebruary/March 2024 | 19


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