Crisis responds to Government's new Rough Sleeping Initiative

Responding to today’s Government announcement of funding for new Rough Sleeping Teams, Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:

“Today’s announcement of funding for new outreach teams is a step in the right direction, but without further detail of an equally ambitious offer of a home and tailored support for every rough sleeper across the country, it falls short of what’s required to truly end rough sleeping.

“It’s encouraging that options are being explored to make properties available for people with a history of rough sleeping, but we need to know how many homes are going to be provided, where they’ll come from and how they’ll be funded. A 'Housing First' approach has been proven to dramatically reduce rough sleeping in other countries and must be at the heart of any rough sleeping strategy.

“Furthermore, we must acknowledge that the continued rise in rough sleeping is a result of welfare cuts, decline in social housing, soaring private rents and chronically underfunded support services. Until we do we will only be tackling the symptoms and not the causes.” 

ENDS 

For more information on the new rough sleeping fund visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-government-initiative-to-reduce-rough-sleeping

For further information or spokesperson interview please call the Crisis media team on 0207 426 3880 or email simon.trevethick@crisis.org.uk 

For out of hours media enquiries please call: 07973 372587 

About Crisis

Crisis is the national charity for homeless people. We help people directly out of homelessness, and campaign for the changes needed to solve it altogether. We know that together we can end homelessness.