800 new homes for rough sleepers in London

The Mayor of London has announced funding for up to 800 new homes for rough sleepers in the city.

Sadiq Khan made the announcement during a visit to a Crisis at Christmas service in Newham, where he met people who have been sleeping rough and staff from Crisis and St Mungo's.

Crisis at Christmas, a partnership between Crisis, St Mungo's and City Hall, has been extended into the new year for the second year in a row, so guests have somewhere safe and warm to stay until mid-January.

The Mayor of London has been allocated around £75 million from the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP), which will be used to deliver homes and support for young homeless people and rough sleepers with complex mental health or substance dependency issues.

Housing associations, local authorities, and charities will be able to bid for the funding later this financial year. Individual funding allocations will be approved by Government and City Hall.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Since becoming Mayor, I’ve made it a personal priority to tackle rough sleeping and we’ve helped a record 13,500 people off the streets through our support services as we work to build a fairer London for all. But the hard work doesn’t stop here and I’m pleased that City Hall has secured funding to deliver up to 800 homes for Londoners sleeping rough.

“We can’t do this alone, and to end rough sleeping in our capital, particularly amid the cost of living crisis, the Government must intervene to prevent the circumstances that lead to people sleeping rough before thousands more are forced to face a winter on the streets.”

Matt Downie, Crisis chief executive, added: “We know the life changing impact our services over Christmas, and all year round, can have on people experiencing homelessness, so it’s been fantastic to work alongside the GLA and the wider homelessness sector once again in extending our Christmas hotels through to the end of January.

“But our services are just the start of someone’s journey and to end their homelessness long-term we need accommodation that is safe and affordable. That’s why this funding for more homes for people to rebuild their lives in is hugely welcome.  With rapidly rising rents and the cost of living crisis pushing more and more people into poverty and destitution there has never been a more pressing time to ensure that people are protected from life on the streets.”

Image by Kev from Pixabay