Ensuring that everyone has a roof over their head is one of the most important things any Government can do, and I am proud that this Government is committed and on target to end rough sleeping by 2024. Work continues to help provide immediate support and longer-term accommodation, and it is encouraging to learn that rough sleeping has fallen by 37% in the last year alone.
I recognise that many in our community want to see significant funding put towards ending rough sleeping, and I am glad the Government has listened. Over £800 million is being spent to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in England in 2021-22. As part of this, the largest ever investment in move-on accommodation is being made through the accelerated delivery of the £433 million Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme. In total, projects across England will also receive more than £150 million to deliver more than 3,300 such secure homes by the end of March 2021, providing long term accommodation to vulnerable people to keep them safe from coronavirus and rebuild their lives.
Telford and Wrekin Council have received some £1,076,653 for local schemes that provide secure ‘move on’ style accommodation for people at risk of sleeping on the streets and is an important step towards achieving the Conservative Party’s manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping by 2024, alongside investment in new homes for social rent.
On top of this, £203 million is being invested through the Rough Sleeping Initiative in 2021-22 - an 81 per cent increase from the £112 million provided in 2020-21. This programme will fund up to 14,500 bed spaces and 2,700 support staff across England and includes immediate work to support people off the street as well as longer-term housing-led solutions. More sustainable accommodation is also available such as private rented sector access schemes. In August, I welcomed Minister for Rough Sleeping, Eddie Hughes MP, to Telford to meet with local housing providers focused on providing affordable housing for those most in need.
A key focus of Government work is helping people find longer-term accommodation and providing tailored support which enables those who have been helped into accommodation move forwards is crucial.
To maximise efficiently at a local level, local authorities are equipped to help provide this type of support by being given more control and flexibility in supporting those who are at risk through the £310 million Homelessness Prevention Grant. This has been bolstered by a further one-off £65 million grant in 2021-22 for local authorities to help vulnerable households with rent arrears to get back on their feet. The Treasury and the Department for Communities is working closely with Councils across the country to ensure that money is spent efficiently, ensuring people are supported into safe and secure accommodation.
