Homelessness charities react with one voice against plans to criminalise rough sleeping in tents
Posted 07.11.23
Emmaus UK: Further reading
This article is one of many that called for the Home Secretary to urgently reconsider her suggested plans to criminalise the use of tents by people sleeping rough.
The Home Secretary Suella Braverman is proposing new laws to restrict the use of tents by homeless people, and there are reports the plans being drawn up include forbidding charities from giving tents to homeless people.
Charlotte Talbott, Chief Executive of Emmaus UK, supported the open letter which hah been published by the charity Crisis with a range of homelessness charity leaders as signatories.
She also joined others in condemning comments recently posted by the home secretary on X, formerly known as Twitter, in which she said that many people are living on the streets as a "lifestyle choice".
Charlotte Talbott said: "Emmaus UK whole-heartedly endorses the open letter and calls for the Government to reconsider measures to criminalise the use of tents by people living on the streets.
"Though rough sleeping is dangerous and should have no place in society, and a home is a basic human right, demonising people living on the streets and hampering humane support is damaging. Instead, the Government should focus on addressing the causes of homelessness."
Editorial Note
The Home Secretary's comments raised fears that her views might be reflected in legislation proposals in the King's Speech a few days later. This proved not to be the case.
However, there are still widespread concerns about a senior government minister's attitude that appears to criminalise rough sleeping, rather than making more efforts to tackle the main cause of it - the current housing crisis.
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Lambeth rolls out bespoke programme to support young people's housing needs
Posted 24.11.23
Lambeth Council: Further reading
Lambeth Council is transforming the way it provides housing-related support services to homeless young people, including care leavers and unaccompanied young people seeking asylum.
The new programme - 'Routes to Independence' - was created following an internal review of existing services in 2020, which found significant elements of the council's supported housing services for 16 to 25-year-olds did not meet their needs.
It focuses on four areas:
The wide range of services on offer will provide stability and support for young people to develop the skills they need to transition to independence.
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'No room at the Inn' for thousands of homeless households
Posted 28.11.23
The Salvation Army: Further reading
One in four homeless households in England who turn to their local council for emergency accommodation in the run-up to Christmas will be told there is 'no room at the inn' according to The Salvation Army.
Under homelessness legislation, local authorities in England only have a duty to find emergency accommodation for people who are classed as in ;priority need'.
The charity is calling for a change in the law so all those forced onto the streets are offered temporary and then longer-term accommodation.
This would also require government funds for local homelessness services to rise in line with inflation to help ensure that councils have the resource to support this additional need.
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Over 1,200 new homes for rough sleepers to be funded from Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme
Posted 28.11.23
GOV.UK: Further reading
People with a history of rough sleeping and those at risk of homelessness will be helped into stable, long-term accommodation with £150 million of new government funding.
Local authorities, housing providers and charities across England will build or buy 1,230 homes for the most vulnerable, funded by the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme.
The money also funds a wide range of accommodation and support services for vulnerable adults, including purpose-built accommodation and supported housing.
These new services also include 24/7 support for the most vulnerable, with access to specialist teams where people can address substance misuse, domestic violence and abuse or improve their wellbeing and mental health.
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Supreme Court rules local authorities must provide housing to people experiencing homelessness
Posted 28.11.23
Crisis: Further reading
Earlier this year, Crisis intervened in a Supreme Court case that was considering the enforcement of the duty on councils to assist people who are homeless into suitable accommodation under the Housing Act 1996.
The Supreme Court was asked to review whether a council's budgetary constraints, or the availability of housing, could be considered in its ability to fulfil their duty to provide people accepted as homeless with suitable accommodation.
This would have meant people would have to remain in unsuitable temporary accommodation due to funding constraints on councils.
The Supreme Court has now ruled that councils must uphold their duties and find people who are homeless suitable accommodation.
The ruling also sets out the detail needed from councils if they cannot provide suitable accommodation.
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