Today, Saturday 21st March, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that, with support from Government, 300 hotel rooms have been secured so that people sleeping rough in London can self-isolate over the coming weeks.

The Mayor’s team has worked with Intercontinental Hotels Group to block-book the rooms in two London hotels for the next 12 weeks. Over Friday and the weekend, as part of a trial period, rough sleepers who are already known to the homelessness charities supported by the Mayor will be moved to the rooms.

Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: “During this outbreak, the only answer to truly protect people sleeping rough, and those in crowded hostels and night shelters, is to provide emergency testing for the virus and self-contained accommodation so they can self-isolate.

“We are pleased the Mayor of London is taking these necessary steps, but with over 1,000 people sleeping rough in the capital tonight and many more in night shelters, well above 300 hotel rooms are needed.

“We cannot overstate how urgent it is that every person who is homeless across Britain is given a safe, secure place to stay during the pandemic.”