Ending rough sleeping

The UK Prime Minister that has pledged to end rough. Politicians from across the UK, representing a wide range of political parties, have made similar promises over the past decade or so when coming into power. And yet people continue to sleep rough. So, is it actually possible to end rough sleeping? Evidence shows that it is possible, but only if the right policy decisions are made.

Rough sleeping is the most visible and dangerous form of homelessness. People who experience street homelessness are more likely to die at a much younger age compared to the general population, due to the causes and effects of sleeping rough.

4,793 people sleep rough on any given night in England, according to official statistics published by the UK government. A record high since data was first published on the levels of rough sleeping in 2010, and an increase of 56% over the past three years.

Housing is it devolved matter, so parliaments for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have powers to make their own policies on homelessness and rough sleeping. Governments for these nations have made successive progressive policy decisions on housing, using their powers to full effect to increase the supply of social housing, make best use of existing housing stock, improve the standard of private sector housing and tackle homelessness. Despite this, the levels of homelessness in all nations continues to increase, with record numbers of homeless households occupying temporary accommodation across all four UK nations. Temporary accommodation numbers have substantially increased post the COVID-19 pandemic, coinciding with the cost-of-living crisis. Because devolved government don’t have all of the necessary policy-making powers available to them to end rough sleeping, despite all of the progressive measures taken, the numbers of people experiencing homelessness continues to increase.

The new UK Prime Minister has committed to end rough sleeping by the end of this parliament (2029). This pledge demonstrates a commitment to help the most disadvantaged people in our country. The Prime Minister previously pledged to end rough sleeping in Greater Manchester when he first became Mayor. He has correctly identified that it is not entirely possible for devolved administrations to end rough sleeping, as national government retains power over some of areas of policy (e.g. welfare, taxation) that are key to ending rough sleeping.

Rough sleeping (and homelessness generally) is a type of poverty and occurs as a result of inequalities. The causes of homelessness are the same as the causes of poverty and inequality - medical and welfare factors, unfit overcrowded and unsuitable housing, and other hardships (such as domestic abuse, low income, unemployment), along with prejudice.

To end rough sleeping action will need to be taken to:

1. Prevent rough sleeping
2. Provide accommodation for people who are rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping
3. Support people who are rough sleeping, or at risk of rough sleeping, or have previously slept rough.

To prevent rough sleeping, people will have to have enough to live on, so they can afford the basics in life and avoid getting into debt. The introduction of a universal basic income will be essential to preventing rough sleeping, as it will provide people with the financial security they need to pay for the essentials in life. Public bodies and housing associations will also need to do more, at an earlier stage, to help people who are to become homeless. This approach, known as a duty to ask an act, is currently being successfully trial in Scotland and will be introduced in Wales due course. A similar duty will need to be introduced in England.

To provide accommodation for people who are rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping, there will need to be an increase in social rented housing, the UK government has already pledged to build 300,000 social housing homes each year in England, this this needs to include specialist supported housing for people who need help to sustain independence. Governments for Scotland and Wales have already pledged similar targets for their nations, but to date have not been able to build homes at the rate anticipated or required. The ambition to build more social housing can be achieved over a medium to long-term, especially with a government backed development agency leading the building programme. Short-term measures to help people obtain the housing they need. This can be best accomplished by restoring local housing allowance rates to the 50th percentile and also introducing rent caps into the private rented sector.

To support people who are sleeping rough, or at risk of rough sleeping, or have previously slept rough, the housing first approach, which makes sure people have flexible ongoing help, will need to be comprehensively rolled out nationwide. Voluntary organisations will need to be able to deliver the invaluable information, advice and counselling that they already offer, at a much larger scale. Public bodies will need to be able to provide good quality health, social care, and criminal justice services, to help people recover from the harmful effects of rough sleeping.

All of the above actions will require substantial revenue and capital funding to be resourced properly. The typical cost of helping a person away from street homelessness is around £20,000, compared to a £1400 to prevent homelessness. Ending rough sleeping might deliver savings in the medium to long term and result in better value for money for the taxpayer. The UK Government can help pay for the actions necessary to end rough sleeping by introducing a wealth tax and ensuring revenue raised from this is directly targeted towards actions for ending rough sleeping, such as introducing a universal basic income and restoring local housing allowance rates to the 50^th percentile, which would have a positive impact not just for England, but also across the whole of the United Kingdom. It is evident from policies and programs delivered by first ministers and elected mayors across the UK, that devolved government can be successful at making sure that actions and resources are delivered at the right scale and pace for their area. Local government had a long-term track record in making sure that the right housing and support is targeted at those that are in most need.

The Prime Minister needs to explain what he means by ending rough sleeping. Is it that people never sleep rough for more than one night? Is it that very few people ever sleep rough? Is it that there are never repeat occurrences of rough sleeping? Or is it all of the above? Over the next three years up to the end of this parliament, the goal should be to reduce the levels of rough sleeping to us near zero as possible.

Ending rough sleeping will help to foster greater prosperity and fairness for everyone affected by poverty and inequality. It is possible to end rough sleeping, if the right actions are taken and sufficient resources are made available. The Prime Minister can achieve his ambition of ending sleeping (in England and the whole of the UK), if his government acts on the evidence of works to end rough sleeping.