You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Javid will consider Housing First scheme
The government will consider a radical scheme to place rough sleepers with mental health and substance abuse problems in permanent housing before they begin receiving treatment.
Communities secretary Sajd Javid told The Observer on Sunday he was keen to examine the approach, which has all but eradicated rough sleeping in Finland. Inside Housing’s Cathy at 50 campaign is calling on councils to explore Housing First as a default option for long-term rough sleepers.
Mr Javid said: “I’m particularly interested in Housing First as a means to ending chronic homelessness. I intend to travel to Finland to learn more about the approach.”
The move comes after the publication of a major report on homelessness by the influential right-of-centre thinktank, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).
The report urges ministers to provide rough sleepers with permanent accommodation as soon as possible, rather than wait until they have proved they are ‘housing ready’ by engaging with mental health and substance misuse services.
READ MORE ABOUT CATHY AT 50
“There is overwhelming evidence to support the use of Housing First, which provides stable, independent homes alongside co-ordinated, wrap-around, personalised support to homeless people, as a housing solution,” it states.
The scheme would cost £110m per year but the CSJ claims that the government will make the money back over the course of the parliament.
Matt Downie, director of policy at homelessness charity Crisis, told Inside Housing that he was delighted by Mr Javid’s remarks but wanted to see more detail before declaring victory.
“We need to get homeless people into permanent accommodation rather than making them go through the sausage machine of hostels and night shelters. If the government declares Housing First as national policy then it will be a huge step forward for the Cathy at 50 campaign,” he said.
Mr Javid, who will be speaking at the launch of the report tomorrow, said the Department for Communities and Local Government would be looking at the report. “My department will be studying the recommendations closely, as this is a cause close to my heart.”
Rough sleeping has increased by more than 130% since 2010 to more than 4,000 on any given night. CSJ analysis has found that around 34,500 people might sleep rough in England.
