Look Ahead welcomes the Prime Minister’s announcement of a national drive to offer everyone sleeping rough in England a route off the streets by Christmas.
The commitment to end rough sleeping and the accompanying £442 million funding package are important and positive steps forward.
We are also pleased to see the Government recognise that people sleeping rough need urgent, practical support this winter, alongside access to accommodation, health care, addiction support and specialist services. We acknowledge that getting people off the streets is a crucial step, but what is also clear is that supported housing services for people with experience of rough sleeping are essential to driving the long-term changes needed to consolidate the gains this new policy could make.
Chris Hampson, Chief Executive of Look Ahead, said: “As a specialist provider of supported housing to people with complex needs, including those linked to homelessness, we know that a safe long-term home with the accompanying wrap-around support our services offer, can lead to fantastic outcomes for these individuals.
“Time and again, we have seen people once considered ‘entrenched rough sleepers’ make great progress on their journey towards recovery, greater independence, and tenancy maintenance, while also making impressive improvements in managing their mental health, overcoming substance misuse and engaging the wider community.
“If the Government want to sustain the fantastic initial results the Prime Minister’s pledge could bring in the longer term, then supported housing must be part of the equation, but this of course, requires funding.”
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