'Hugely important' £442m rough sleeping pledge welcomed in York as costs spiral
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to get rough sleepers off the streets by Christmas (Image: PA)
EFFORTS to get rough sleepers off the country’s streets by Christmas have been welcomed in York after costs and the amount of people needing help has spiralled.
Cllr Dave Merrett, City of York Council’s Labour housing spokesperson, said the idea that anyone should have to spend Christmas on the streets should trouble everyone.
Garry Taylor, the council’s city development lead, said York had seen a rise in demand for help with rough sleeping and homelessness and in costs for support in recent years.
It comes after the Government unveiled funding worth £442 million on Wednesday, August 19 to provide every rough sleeper with a route off the streets by Christmas.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to end rough sleeping when he took office in July.
The prime minister said on Wednesday no one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station as he called on community leaders and sectors across society to join in the effort.
Councils spending on homelessness services has risen by 125 per cent, £950 million, in real terms from 2019/20 to 2024/5 according to Local Government Association (LGA) figures.
There has been an almost 52 increase in people needing temporary accommodation during the same period.
Cllr Merrett said the Government’s commitment would go beyond just getting people of streets and would see them helped to find a secure home.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to get rough sleepers off the streets by Christmas
(Image: James Manning)
Cllr Merrett said: “This is a hugely important commitment.
“In York, we’ve already been changing the way we tackle homelessness, bringing our resettlement services back in house, developing Housing First and our Rough Sleeper Navigator service, and investing in additional outreach, tenancy support and frontline services across the city.
“This new funding is very welcome, its about putting the right support around people and giving them the stability to move forward with their lives.”
Mr Taylor said they already worked year-round to provide outreach, emergency accommodation, tailored support and housing advice.
The director said: “We are currently awaiting further details from Government on how the new funding and winter accommodation programme will be allocated locally, but we will work closely with partners to ensure York is well-placed to make best use of any additional support available.
“Like councils across the country, we have seen increasing demand for homelessness and rough sleeping services in recent years, alongside rising costs associated with providing support and temporary accommodation.
“Our priority remains preventing homelessness wherever possible, supporting the most vulnerable residents and helping people move into sustainable long-term housing solutions.”
Cllr Liam Robinson, chair of the LGA’s Inclusive Growth Committee, said it was right that local areas would determine how the extra cash is used.
But he added extra help and resources would be needed to ensure change is lasting.
The committee chair said: “Given the scale of this challenge, we need ambition and resources to make the progress we need in the long term, and most importantly, to address the root causes of homelessness in this country.”