Call for evidence from organisations in the homelessness sector

Please note: This inquiry is now closed for submissions. It was open 13 April – 20 May 2022.

As part of our inquiry the APPGEH is calling for evidence from organisations in the homelessness sector.

Your answers to the below questions will provide important evidence for our inquiry and help make the case that action must be taken to ensure rough sleeping is ended in England for good.

We are keen for organisations to submit written evidence that includes the personal testimony, case studies and experiences of clients who have direct experiences of using homelessness services. Please complete indicate whether individuals quoted in the submission have given permission to be named or whether they should be reported anonymous.

All the information we collect is stored securely and is treated confidentially and will only be used with your consent. Please see here for more information on Crisis’ privacy policy.

Questions for organisations

1. Review of the commitment to end rough sleeping in England by 2024 – where are we now?
1. Do you think the Government will meet its manifesto commitment to ending rough sleeping by 2024? Please explain your reasoning in less than 500 words.
1. What does successfully ending rough sleeping in England look like?
2. How can we best measure this? 
2. What progress has been made, and what government action to tackle rough sleeping since 2019 do you think has been most important/ impactful?
3. What examples of best practice to end rough sleeping can you share from a local, regional or national level in England?
4. What in your view are the general lessons to be learnt from Everyone In initiative in regards to tackling rough sleeping?
5. How do you think Everyone In could have been made more effective in terms of policy, law, and/or funding?
6. The Government has promised in its 2019 manifesto to end rough sleeping by expanding successful pilots and programmes such as the Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) and Housing First (HF): 
1. What merits and limitations does the RSI have, and what impact do you consider it to have had on funding efforts to end rough sleeping?
2. What role can Housing First play in helping the Westminster Government deliver its manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping in England by 2024? 
7. What changes would you like to see in terms of national or local funding arrangements to tackle rough sleeping (no more than 3)? 

2. Meeting the needs of everyone sleeping rough:
1. Which cohorts of rough sleepers do you think have been supported out of rough sleeping? Has their homelessness been ended? If not what more needs to be done for these groups
2. Which groups do you feel still lack access to the support they need or a meaningful intervention and what should be put in place to successfully end their homelessness? In particular, views on any of the following groups would be helpful:

1. Survivors of gendered violence/domestic abuse
2. Women
3. LGBTQI+ groups
4. Non-UK nationals
5. Prison leavers
6. Veterans
7. Care leavers
8. Complex needs
9. Other groups

3. What is needed to prevent, secure and sustain an end to rough sleeping in England?
1. In your opinion, what are the main national policy and practice changes still needed to sustain an end rough sleeping in England beyond 2024? Please order these in terms of importance
2. In your opinion, what are the main local policy and practice changes needed to successfully sustain an end rough sleeping in England by 2024 ? Please order theses in terms of importance
3. Should government look beyond ending rough sleeping and commit to ending wider forms of homelessness beyond 2024? please explain.
4. If yes to answer c, what policies are needed to end all forms of homelessness for good, and what additional outcome measures could reflect this?

 Thank you for taking the time to submit this evidence. Please add any comments you may have on your above answers, or any other comments you have.

How to submit: To submit your evidence, please email them to Emily Batchelor at emily.batchelor@crisis.org.uk and appg@crisis.org.uk