‘Unprecedented levels of migration’ have resulted in a surge in rough sleeping but a new plan backed by major mayors promises lasting change.
There is strong concern about the increase in rough sleeping (Image: Getty)
Rough sleeping has nearly doubled since the pandemic with crisis-hit councils spending more than £2billion a year on temporary accommodation, according to a new report which says those with no right to live in the UK should be required to leave. The Centre for Social Justice said a post-Covid surge in rough sleeping has been fuelled by “unprecedented levels of migration”. It found the number of rough sleepers from outside the UK has more than doubled since 2021, with “Romania, Eritrea and Poland being the most common non-UK countries of origin in London”.
The CSJ says that where appropriate, “support should be available to facilitate a return to an individual’s country of origin”. Those who have had their asylum claim rejected, who have overstayed their visa or who are in the UK illegally, “should be required to return,” it added, stating: “This approach is not only fair to taxpayers and essential to maintaining trust in the immigration and asylum system, but also vital to sustaining public support for efforts to end rough sleeping and homelessness”.
The respected think tank said the roll-out across England of a bold new scheme which provides people with permanent accommodation from the start and “intensive” support could save the taxpayer millions and transform lives. Places should be prioritised, it said, for people with a strong “local and UK connection”. It is demanding a fund to relocate civil servants is scrapped with the cash used to help men an women with nowhere to live. Overstretched councils, it warned, have been pushed to the “point of bankruptcy”.
The CSJ – founded by former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith – described the Housing First programme as the “most effective” way of helping “Britain’s most disadvantaged and entrenched rough sleepers”.
The scheme has been piloted in the Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester and West Midlands, and the CSJ says that if rolled-out across England it would “take 5,571 people off the streets by 2029-30, a down payment on ending rough sleeping”. It insists it is “excellent value for money” with every £1 invested returning £2 to the taxpayer and society, in part through savings to the NHS and the criminal justice system.
Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Tackling homelessness is not just an economic imperative, but also a moral mission. Housing First is simple but powerful – safe and secure housing with no conditions attached, meaning people seek support without fear of become homeless again.
“If you set people up to succeed – they largely do. This report by the CSJ sets out a clear path for how the government can support the scale up of Housing First across England, so that every region can share in the success we’ve seen here in Greater Manchester.”
Andy Cook, the think tank’s chief executive, said Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has a “unique opportunity to champion a national rollout which would be a gamechanger in the fight to end rough sleeping”.
Its researchers found English councils last year spent £2.3billion on temporary accommodation. They have calculated a national Housing First programme would cost £103million over four years.
The CSJ says this could be funded by measures including “scrapping relocation expenses for civil servants” and a “20% reduction in the programme which moves government departments into the regions”.
Steve Rotheram, the Mayor of the Liverpool City region, said: “Housing First is not just a successful pilot – it’s a model for reform. We’ve proven it works.
“Now we need to match that with ambition, and make it the foundation of a national mission to end homelessness for good.”
Mayors together: Steve Rotheram with Andy Burnham (Image: Getty)
A spokesperson for the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “We are taking urgent and decisive action to end homelessness, fix the foundations of local government and drive forward our plan for change. We are providing £1 billion for crucial homelessness and rough sleeping services including funding for Housing First and other forms of accommodation for people who sleep rough.
“This is alongside tackling the root causes by building 1.5 million new homes, abolishing section 21 no fault evictions and boosting social and affordable housing – backed by £39billion investment.”
