Stephen Morgan MP has welcomed the announcement of a national drive by Prime Minister Andy Burnham to end rough sleeping in the UK at the earliest opportunity.
This drive, which will tackle a major national injustice, will be backed from day one by an additional £340 million that will take overall funding to record levels.
During the announcement, the Prime Minister rejected the claim that ending rough sleeping would take decades and that it could not be done, saying that the crisis has been the failure of previous national government, which has neglected the issue.
Mayors, councils, the NHS, public services and government departments will now be backed to provide urgent support for vulnerable people before the winter.
The drive forms a key part of a pledge made by the Prime Minister to help everyone to live well and build a more preventative state, investing in success rather than paying for failure. Crisis research shows that a year of rough sleeping costs an estimated £20,128 per person, versus £1,426 for a successful prevention intervention.
Urgent first steps will begin to help those sleeping rough over a long period to move into secure housing. This includes beginning the acquisition of suitable homes, identifying those most in need and starting to provide housing and support without delay.
The new funding is the first phase of investment in a wider five-year programme that will provide homes and support for thousands of the people facing the most severe and long-term homelessness. Further steps will be set out before the autumn.
Mr Morgan, who ran a charity providing services to rough sleepers before being elected to Parliament, understands the challenges faced by rough sleepers and has given his support to previous Government action on this issue. Examples of this can be read about in further detail here and here.
Commenting, Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, said:
“The Government’s announcement of £340 Million towards ending rough sleeping is a major step forward in addressing one of the worst injustices in our society.
” Every person deserves a roof over their head and a permanent place to call home, but unfortunately for too many in our city that is not the case.
“That is why I have remained committed to addressing this issue here in Portsmouth and will be giving my full support to the Prime Minister’s bold new drive.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:
“For too long, we’ve been told that ending rough sleeping will take decades or even that it’s impossible. I’m not having that.
“This is something a government can fix if it chooses to. Today, I’m choosing to.
“On my first day as Prime Minister, I’m announcing this government’s commitment to finally end long-term rough sleeping across the UK at the earliest opportunity.
“We’ll get to work immediately, bringing together national and local government with the investment needed to get it done.
“This is the kind of Britain I want us to be – a country where everyone has the security of a roof over their head, and where no one is left behind or written off. Let’s bring back hope.”
This effort will benefit everyone: transforming the lives of people who have spent long periods on the streets, strengthening towns and communities, and reducing the pressure that repeated crisis interventions place on the NHS, the criminal justice system and other public services.
Local leaders will lead the delivery of the programme, building on proven local-led approaches that have helped to tackle rough sleeping in communities across the country. The new funding, which represents the opening investment, will provide 1,200 homes and intensive support for at least 3,000 people.
