Bob Blackman is the MP for Harrow East.
Across the UK, over 6,631 people were sleeping rough in September 2022. This figure is growing; the Government must act if they are to keep their commitment to end rough sleeping by 2024.
Rough sleeping involves people sleeping without adequate shelter, typically on the streets and open to the elements. In London alone, the number of rough sleepers rose by 16 per cent between April and June 2022. Yet this is rarely self-inflicted; often, it is caused by unfortunate circumstances. Indeed, I am astounded by the number of people with experience of rough sleeping who never thought in their wildest dreams that they might find themselves in this position.
Some of them may have been living with family or friends and experienced their relationship breakdown. This often leaves them needing to leave immediately, with no notice period due to the casual terms of their residency. A more extreme case of troubled relationships is domestic abuse. Victims often fear for their safety and thus, with no preparation, flee their homes to prevent further harm. Both cases leave no time to organise alternative accommodation, forcing one to sleep rough.
Another, perhaps more obvious reason, is a change in financial circumstances. Unemployment can mean tenants are unable to keep up with rental payments and end up losing the roof over their heads.
Following that, mental health problems and substance abuse can alter people’s perspectives, pushing them into a vicious cycle where the longer someone sleeps on the streets, the more likely they are to develop additional mental and physical health needs, engage in substance misuse or interact with the justice system. The more advanced those needs become, the harder it is to break the cycle.
Hitherto, prison leavers were normally discharged on a Friday. When they left the prison, often with minimal funds, the local authorities were closed for the weekend. Consequently, leavers were often forced to sleep on the streets. Friday releases are no longer allowed, but, due to their criminal records, prison leavers still find it difficult to obtain work, and so often are forced into homelessness regardless.
Simultaneously, the lack of housing available that is appropriate to accommodate people living rough means they are housed in inappropriate shelters or blatantly refused support. Additionally, many mental health assessments will not be carried out on the streets. This makes it impossible to receive help from outreach services or referrals.
With regard to substance abuse, it is often a similar story. People can be refused assistance unless they address their drug issues. However, this is very difficult to do when living rough with no access to support. A staggering 33 per cent of rough sleepers that approach local authorities for help are refused assistance of some kind.
Finally, migrants who have no recourse to public funds are commonly exposed to rough sleeping. Many of those in this position who were assisted under the ‘Everyone In’ scheme – a government initiative that aimed to provide emergency accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic – face rough sleeping once again.
The implications of rough sleeping can be devastating. The subjection to below-freezing temperatures, minimal sanitation, limited food or drink and abuse are crippling to the well-being of rough sleepers.
They are also 17 times more likely to be a victim of crime or have anti-social behaviour directed towards them. This figure is worse for women, who are frequently kicked or have objects hurled at them. Six percent experienced sexual assault and 51 per cent are subjected to the defilement of their property.
Moreover, due to the inappropriate environment and associated risks, it is very difficult for rough sleepers to sleep. This further worsens their mental and physical health and fuels their reliance on drugs.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Ending Homelessness, which I chair, works together with the charity Crisis to collaborate with the Minister to address these matters. In 2016, I introduced the Homelessness Reduction Act to prevent people from becoming homeless and introduced the most comprehensive changes to the rights of homeless people in England for over 39 years.
It meant that everyone who is at risk of homelessness is legally entitled to real help from their local authority; previously, only those who were deemed in priority need had been entitled to this. This excluded most; in particular, almost all of those who were single.
The Homelessness Reduction Act also implemented a duty on all public bodies to refer any person they believe to be at risk of homelessness within the next 56 days to the housing department of a local authority. This has helped to direct appropriate support to those in need and to prevent them from having to sleep rough.
That 56-day deadline marks a significant extension: previously, only those at risk of homelessness in the following 28 days would be entitled to receive guidance. The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill is further set to regulate rogue landlords who take advantage of vulnerable people in exempt accommodation and protect them from exploitation.
There is more the Government can do to help – foremost, increase the affordable housing supply.
Particularly during a time of rising living costs, tenants need to be able to keep up with rental payments and simultaneously not be on a never-ending waiting list for appropriate housing. Successful prevention of homelessness is built on the premise that there is universal access to emergency and permanent accommodation. We need to ensure we prevent homelessness in the very first instance; once people are already on the streets, it is a far more difficult feat to take them off them.
Second, although currently adopted by some, the rollout of a homelessness prevention duty must be extended to every local authority, ensuring that all those at risk are helped.
The longer a person is on the streets, the more difficult it is to break the cycle. So, third, any barriers to receiving help need to be removed, making the journey off the streets a swift process. The No Second Night Out model is used by many local authorities to move new rough sleepers into accommodation almost immediately.
Every night spent on the streets is a night wasted in rebuilding someone’s life. Every person sleeping rough may have different reasons for ending up there, different needs, and different hurdles to accessing help. The assistance they receive should be tailored specifically to their needs to ensure the best possible chances of restoring their lives.
This support must continue into their rehabilitation, ensuring that they are supported to find employment, receive treatment for any health needs, and are aware of the support networks that they may need in the future.
This article first appeared in Bright Blue’s latest essay collection, ‘Home advantage: a centre-right vision for housing’.
Bob Blackman is the MP for Harrow East.
Across the UK, over 6,631 people were sleeping rough in September 2022. This figure is growing; the Government must act if they are to keep their commitment to end rough sleeping by 2024.
Rough sleeping involves people sleeping without adequate shelter, typically on the streets and open to the elements. In London alone, the number of rough sleepers rose by 16 per cent between April and June 2022. Yet this is rarely self-inflicted; often, it is caused by unfortunate circumstances. Indeed, I am astounded by the number of people with experience of rough sleeping who never thought in their wildest dreams that they might find themselves in this position.
Some of them may have been living with family or friends and experienced their relationship breakdown. This often leaves them needing to leave immediately, with no notice period due to the casual terms of their residency. A more extreme case of troubled relationships is domestic abuse. Victims often fear for their safety and thus, with no preparation, flee their homes to prevent further harm. Both cases leave no time to organise alternative accommodation, forcing one to sleep rough.
Another, perhaps more obvious reason, is a change in financial circumstances. Unemployment can mean tenants are unable to keep up with rental payments and end up losing the roof over their heads.
Following that, mental health problems and substance abuse can alter people’s perspectives, pushing them into a vicious cycle where the longer someone sleeps on the streets, the more likely they are to develop additional mental and physical health needs, engage in substance misuse or interact with the justice system. The more advanced those needs become, the harder it is to break the cycle.
Hitherto, prison leavers were normally discharged on a Friday. When they left the prison, often with minimal funds, the local authorities were closed for the weekend. Consequently, leavers were often forced to sleep on the streets. Friday releases are no longer allowed, but, due to their criminal records, prison leavers still find it difficult to obtain work, and so often are forced into homelessness regardless.
Simultaneously, the lack of housing available that is appropriate to accommodate people living rough means they are housed in inappropriate shelters or blatantly refused support. Additionally, many mental health assessments will not be carried out on the streets. This makes it impossible to receive help from outreach services or referrals.
With regard to substance abuse, it is often a similar story. People can be refused assistance unless they address their drug issues. However, this is very difficult to do when living rough with no access to support. A staggering 33 per cent of rough sleepers that approach local authorities for help are refused assistance of some kind.
Finally, migrants who have no recourse to public funds are commonly exposed to rough sleeping. Many of those in this position who were assisted under the ‘Everyone In’ scheme – a government initiative that aimed to provide emergency accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic – face rough sleeping once again.
The implications of rough sleeping can be devastating. The subjection to below-freezing temperatures, minimal sanitation, limited food or drink and abuse are crippling to the well-being of rough sleepers.
They are also 17 times more likely to be a victim of crime or have anti-social behaviour directed towards them. This figure is worse for women, who are frequently kicked or have objects hurled at them. Six percent experienced sexual assault and 51 per cent are subjected to the defilement of their property.
Moreover, due to the inappropriate environment and associated risks, it is very difficult for rough sleepers to sleep. This further worsens their mental and physical health and fuels their reliance on drugs.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Ending Homelessness, which I chair, works together with the charity Crisis to collaborate with the Minister to address these matters. In 2016, I introduced the Homelessness Reduction Act to prevent people from becoming homeless and introduced the most comprehensive changes to the rights of homeless people in England for over 39 years.
It meant that everyone who is at risk of homelessness is legally entitled to real help from their local authority; previously, only those who were deemed in priority need had been entitled to this. This excluded most; in particular, almost all of those who were single.
The Homelessness Reduction Act also implemented a duty on all public bodies to refer any person they believe to be at risk of homelessness within the next 56 days to the housing department of a local authority. This has helped to direct appropriate support to those in need and to prevent them from having to sleep rough.
That 56-day deadline marks a significant extension: previously, only those at risk of homelessness in the following 28 days would be entitled to receive guidance. The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Bill is further set to regulate rogue landlords who take advantage of vulnerable people in exempt accommodation and protect them from exploitation.
There is more the Government can do to help – foremost, increase the affordable housing supply.
Particularly during a time of rising living costs, tenants need to be able to keep up with rental payments and simultaneously not be on a never-ending waiting list for appropriate housing. Successful prevention of homelessness is built on the premise that there is universal access to emergency and permanent accommodation. We need to ensure we prevent homelessness in the very first instance; once people are already on the streets, it is a far more difficult feat to take them off them.
Second, although currently adopted by some, the rollout of a homelessness prevention duty must be extended to every local authority, ensuring that all those at risk are helped.
The longer a person is on the streets, the more difficult it is to break the cycle. So, third, any barriers to receiving help need to be removed, making the journey off the streets a swift process. The No Second Night Out model is used by many local authorities to move new rough sleepers into accommodation almost immediately.
Every night spent on the streets is a night wasted in rebuilding someone’s life. Every person sleeping rough may have different reasons for ending up there, different needs, and different hurdles to accessing help. The assistance they receive should be tailored specifically to their needs to ensure the best possible chances of restoring their lives.
This support must continue into their rehabilitation, ensuring that they are supported to find employment, receive treatment for any health needs, and are aware of the support networks that they may need in the future.
This article first appeared in Bright Blue’s latest essay collection, ‘Home advantage: a centre-right vision for housing’.