Today, the government has launched a bold new National Plan to End Homelessness to support the most vulnerable in our society to find their feet and improve their lives.
Unveiled today and backed by £3.5 billion of investment over the next 3 years, this landmark strategy has been shaped by the voices of those who have experienced homelessness to support the most vulnerable people to find their feet and improve their lives.
Rough sleepers in Portsmouth will benefit from this investment, with almost £150 million of overall investment being allocated to the South East to ensure support within this region.
As the coldest months of the year settle in and Christmas fast approaches, for many, the harsh reality of homelessness becomes harder than ever – whether for someone bedding down on the street, or children struggling in temporary accommodation. Currently a family is being made homeless or threatened with homelessness every five minutes.
The National Plan to End Homelessness has three key pledges to be achieved by the end of this parliament:
- To halve the number of long-term rough sleepers
- End the unlawful use of B&Bs for families
- Prevent more households from becoming homeless in the first place
It will be underpinned by clear, ambitious goals for lasting change, including a duty on public services to work together to prevent homelessness, a boost to the supply of good-quality temporary homes, and £3.5 billion – a £1 billion funding boost over and above previous commitments – to support rough sleeping and support services.
To feed into the development of this strategy, Mr Morgan hosted a productive “Cuppa & Chat” event last month to discuss the topic of ending homelessness. This can be read about in further detail at https://www.stephenmorgan.org.uk/say-on-ending-homelessness/.
Today’s announcement follows the Royal Assent of the government’s landmark Renters’ Rights Act, which puts an end to Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions that can often contribute to households finding themselves homeless.
Alongside this, the government is investing £39 billion in the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation, helping to give more people a secure roof over their head as part of our commitment to build 1.5 million homes.
Commenting, Stephen Morgan MP for Portsmouth South said:
“Portsmouth people will know that addressing the moral stain of homelessness has long been a key focus of mine as their MP.
“As we enter the harsh winter months this issue only becomes more pressing and more concerning, especially for those affected.
“That is why I welcome today’s announcement of the National Plan to End Homelessness, which will introduce welcome measures to tackle rough sleeping in our city head-on.
“This strategy is setting Portsmouth on a better path, one that will save money and change lives, helping the most vulnerable in our community to find their feet and improve their lives.”
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said:
“Homelessness is one of the most profound challenges we face as a society, because at the heart, it’s about people. Families deserve stability, children need a safe place to grow, and individuals simply want the dignity of a home.
“This strategy is shaped by the voices of those who’ve lived through homelessness and the frontline workers who fight tirelessly to prevent it.
“Through our new strategy we can build a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and not repeated. With record investment, new duties on public services, and a relentless focus on accountability, we will turn ambition into reality.”
