Government’s Target to End Rough Sleeping by Next Year Unlikely to Be Met, Commission Report Warns
The government’s ambitious target to end rough sleeping by next year is unlikely to be achieved, according to a report by the Kerslake Commission. The group of experts highlighted chronic and unresolved issues in the housing system as the main barriers to progress. This failure comes at a time when the country is grappling with a housing and affordability crisis, which is leading more people to end up on the streets. Additionally, the pressure on public services has resulted in a lack of early support to prevent homelessness.
The independent commission, consisting of 36 experts, was formed in 2021 to examine the lessons learned from the emergency response that provided assistance to people sleeping rough during the pandemic. However, the report indicates that the latest official figures show that long-term progress has not been made.
The government had published its Ending Rough Sleeping For Good strategy in September 2022, reaffirming its commitment from the 2019 manifesto to eradicate rough sleeping by the end of the current parliament. As a general election is expected to be called next year, the government is under pressure to fulfill this pledge.
Regrettably, the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough in England has actually increased for the first time since 2017, as per the figures released earlier this year. On a single night in autumn last year, a snapshot survey found 3,069 people sleeping rough, which is a 26% rise compared to the equivalent figure for 2021 and a staggering 74% increase compared to 2010.
Furthermore, the numbers of households and children living in temporary accommodation, which is considered another form of homelessness, have reached record levels in England. By the end of March, there were 104,510 households in temporary accommodation, the highest in 25 years. The number of children in this situation has also reached the highest level since records began in 2004, with 131,370 children living in temporary accommodation.
The report by the Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping concludes that the government’s target to end rough sleeping by next year will not be met. It emphasizes that a lack of capacity within the housing system must be prioritized, with a severe shortage of social rented housing and supported housing contributing to the current crisis. The commission also urges that homelessness and rough sleeping be treated as a priority across all government departments and calls for collaboration between sectors in a trauma-informed manner.
The report further recommends that the Illegal Migration Act be repealed, citing concerns that non-UK nationals could face extreme hardship and poverty due to the Act’s provisions. It estimates that as many as 190,000 people with an asylum claim could be deemed inadmissible, leaving them in an indefinite state of destitution.
Emma Haddad, a member of the commission and the chief executive of the St Mungo’s homeless charity, highlights the urgency of the situation and calls for the same level of commitment and funding that was seen during the pandemic response to be directed towards stopping the rise in homelessness and rough sleeping.
With rising homelessness driven by a chronic shortage of affordable housing, soaring rents, and a failure to address no-fault evictions, the report provides a sobering assessment of the government’s track record on tackling this crisis. It emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts and innovative solutions to ensure that everyone has a place to call home.
While the government has allocated £2 billion to address homelessness and rough sleeping, the report’s findings suggest that more needs to be done to prevent further deterioration of the situation. As the country faces a housing and affordability crisis, it is crucial for policymakers to prioritize the urgent need for accessible and affordable housing to effectively address the issues of homelessness and rough sleeping.
The Kerslake Commission’s report serves as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead and the need for significant improvements in the housing system to achieve the goal of ending rough sleeping in the near future. It is now up to policymakers and society as a whole to come together and take decisive action to ensure that everyone has a safe and secure place to call home.
