Three areas in England will launch pilot projects aiming to help rough sleepers into affordable and stable accommodation.
Announced today (09/05/18) by new Housing Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, the projects will be set up in Liverpool, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands Combined Authority, intending to provide individuals with support to recover from complex health issues and sustain tenancies.
The projects are based on an internationally proven approach to providing rough sleepers with support, known as Housing First. Across Europe, this model which combines expert support and affordable accommodation, has been seen as an effective way to reduce homelessness, having ended it for at least 8 out of ten people who were part of the project.
The announcement forms part of the government’s wider aim to halve the number of people sleeping rough by 2022, and end it completely by 2027.
Housing Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said:
“The evidence shows Housing First has an incredible rate of success in providing rough sleepers with the support they need to get off the streets and to rebuild their lives.
“We are investing over £1.2 billion to break the homelessness cycle, but we know there’s more to do to help people off the streets for good. This is why the government is leading the way in implementing Housing First in England.
“I believe these pilots will have a positive impact in their areas and I look forward to hearing about their successes over the coming months.”
