Yahoo News 5 London boroughs to get emergency cash to stop rough sleeping this winter
Five London boroughs will get a share of £2.7 million to stop rough sleeping across the city this winter. The funding boost will aim to ensure rough sleepers have access to a safe and warm bed.
The following London boroughs will receive funding:
Islington – £980,000
Kensington & Chelsea – £500,000
Redbridge – £430,000
Greenwich –£406,000
Kingston – £156,000
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is chairing a cross-government group to develop a long-term strategy to tackle all forms of homelessness. It comes as last year, 155 people died rough sleeping in London with 4,780 sleeping rough in total this summer.
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Ms Rayner said: “Anyone forced to sleep rough on our streets represents a complete failure of the broken system we've inherited. It's a national disgrace, and we can’t keep sticking plasters on it.
“We are approaching the harshest months of the year, so we are taking immediate action to reach anyone sleeping rough and help them off the streets this winter. Bringing together Ministers across government is a crucial step to tackle this crisis at its root, to ensure everyone has access to the basic right of safe, secure housing."
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “No one should have to suffer the indignity of street homelessness, which is why I’m committed to working with the Government, London boroughs and homelessness charities to put London on course to end rough sleeping in the capital for good by 2030.
“As Mayor, I’ve made it a top priority to expand the provision of rough sleeping support available by delivering record funding to homelessness services in the capital and quadrupling City Hall’s rough sleeping budget since 2016. I’m proud that mayoral-backed services have helped over 17,600 Londoners off the streets to date.
“However, there is still much more to be done. It’s shameful that rough sleeping is rising in the capital and across the country, following years of underinvestment from the previous Government. This additional winter funding is a step in the right direction as we start to turn the page on the last 14 years and build a better, fairer London for all.”
There are also plans for Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions to be abolished through the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Around £500 million in new funding is also promised for the Affordable Homes Programme for up to 5,000 new social homes. Councils will also be able to keep 100 per cent of receipts from all Right to Buy sales, enabling them to re-invest in more social housing available for families, said the government.
