The Government’s Everybody In scheme has shown that rough sleeping can be tackled when the political will is there and, with, calls for Westminister ministers to lay out their plans when the scheme comes to a close at the end of June, this funding gives a small indication of the next step.
Homelessness Minister Hall said: “The staggering effort between councils and charities across the country has ensured that over 90 per cent of rough sleepers known to councils at the start of the pandemic have been offered safe accommodation. This work has helped to protect thousands of lives.
“This money will help charities continue to support these people and ensure they are getting everything they need to prevent them from returning to a life on the streets so they can rebuild their lives once and for all.”
Continue reading for free
Registration is free and takes less than 30 seconds.
Our supporters make Big Issue’s work possible. Join us to see the impact we’re having together and discover more ways to help people facing poverty access income, opportunity and support.
Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, added: “Homelessness charities that many vulnerable people rely upon have continued to provide invaluable support, despite being hard hit by the current public health crisis.
This emergency funding will enable them to keep running their vital services, from specialist support for women, those experiencing domestic violence and young people, to providing hot meals or upskilling people experiencing homelessness – to name just a few.”
Meanwhile in Scotland, the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group (HARSAG) has reconvened to explore the next steps towards ending homelessness in the country.
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
The group first came together in 2017, led by Crisis CEO Jon Sparkes and featuring Big Issue Changemaker and Street Soccer Scotland founder David Duke, Social Bite co-founder Josh Littlejohn as well as Homeless Network Scotland’s Maggie Brunjes.
Their recommendations played a key role in defining Scotland’s End Homelessness Together Action plan but the Covid-19 pandemic has had such a devastating impact that Local Government, Housing and Planning Minister Kevin Stewart has brought the group back together two years after they delivered their final recommendations.
Writing in a blog explaining why he took the decision, Stewart said: “I have asked the group to work at pace to consider where things need to go next if we are to end homelessness.
“As in the previous work, HARSAG will frame their work around a number of key questions and this will be in light of the new situation we are in due to Covid-19 to inform a homelessness recovery plan.”
He added: “As Scotland emerges from this public health crisis, we want to avoid further entrenching inequality and disadvantage, whilst further galvanising support for ending homelessness.”
Image: Alexander Baxevanis
