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Government announces £28m funding for Housing First pilots
The government has announced a £28m cash injection to fund three regional Housing First pilots.
West Midlands, Manchester and Liverpool will all pilot the scheme which provides accommodation and wraparound support to entrenched rough sleepers. Inside Housing has been campaigning for the government to back Housing First pilots across the country as part of the Cathy at 50 campaign.
Greater Manchester announced its pilot yesterday, ahead of the Autumn Budget announcement. The government recently funded a study in the Liverpool City Region into Housing First carried out by Crisis which concluded the scheme could save £4m compared with current homelessness services in the area.
Chancellor Philip Hammond said it is “unacceptable that in 21st-century Britain there are people sleeping on the streets”.
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In May, ahead of the snap general election, the government pledged to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and eliminate it by 2027. A homelessness taskforce was also announced.
However, in response to today’s announcement James Murray, head of housing for Greater London Authority, tweeted: “Homelessness Reduction Taskforce and panel were due to begin work in September 2017 - but got postponed and not rescheduled. Glad [government] accepts need for action but they need to get on with it."
Homelessness Reduction Taskforce and panel were due to begin work in September 2017 - but got postponed and not rescheduled. Glad Govt accepts need for action but they need to get on with it #Budget2017
— James Murray (@jamesmurray_ldn)Homelessness Reduction Taskforce and panel were due to begin work in September 2017 - but got postponed and not rescheduled. Glad Govt accepts need for action but they need to get on with it #Budget2017
— James Murray (@jamesmurray_ldn) November 22, 2017
Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “We’re thrilled that with the help of our supporters and politicians across the political spectrum, the government has recognised that to truly build a country that works for everyone, we must solve our homelessness crisis urgently.
“To truly make a success of these schemes the government must now turn these words into action – firstly by getting the Homelessness Task Force up and running to deal with the emergency of rough sleeping in this country, and to fully support local councils in the roll out of the Homelessness Reduction Act when it comes into effect next year."
Update: at 1.40pm, 23.11.17: This story has been updated to correct an error. A Housing First study was carried out in the Liverpool City Region, rather than a pilot as previously stated.
KEY BUDGET MEASURES AT-A-GLANCE
- Investment of £44bn in housebuilding in capital funding, loans and guarantees over the next five years to boost supply of skills, resources and land
- Commitment to be building 300,000 homes a year by mid-2020s
- £1.5bn package of changes to Universal Credit announced. This includes the scrapping of the seven-day waiting period at the beginning of a claim, making a full month’s advance available within five days of a claim for those that need it and allowing claimants on housing benefit to continue claiming for two weeks
- Lift council borrowing caps in "high-demand areas"
- A £125m increase over two years in Targeted Affordability Funding for Local Housing Allowance claimants in the private sector struggling to pay their rent
- New money into Home Builders Fund
- Extra £2.7bn for Housing Infrastructure Fund
- Invest £400m in estate regeneration
- £1.1bn on unlocking strategic sites
- Stamp duty for first time buyers on properties worth up to £300k will be axed, while the first £300k on properties worth up to £500k will also be scrapped
- Three new Housing First pilots announced for West Midlands, Manchester and Liverpool
- Councils to be given the power to charge 100% council tax premium on empty properties
- Government will launch a consultation to barriers to longer tenancies in the private rented sector
- £38m for Kensington & Chelsea Council for mental health and counselling services, regeneration projects in areas surrounding Grenfell Tower and a new community space
- Invest in five new garden towns
- £125m increase in Targeted Affordability Funding for Local Housing Allowance claimants in the private sector struggling to pay rent
