More money for homeless hostels

Homeless hostels around the country have been given a cash injection to help improve facilities for rough sleepers and otherwise help them to escape a life on the streets.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps announced £37.5 million has been fed into the Homelessness Change Programme (HCP) to improve hostels, creating 1,200 extra bed spaces, and also provide help for the homeless to get into employment. Of the extra beds, 320 are in the London area – an allocation that was welcomed the Mayor, Boris Johnson.

Speaking at the No Second Night Out Conference, Shapps also promised an additional £5 million for the HCP. The money will be allocated shortly, he said, and is intended to help councils, charities, and housing associations to further assist the homeless to get their lives back on track.

“It is shocking that there are rough sleepers on the streets of 21st Century Britain who continue to fall through the net of assistance that’s on offer,” said the Housing Minister. “I want all communities to make it their priority to protect the most vulnerable in society. That’s why this Government is offering more help to the councils, charities and housing associations who do a fantastic job at helping those living on the streets.”

The money, as ever, is handled by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the organisation confirmed that 37 housing associations, local authorities and charitable providers have been allocated funds from the pot, with £3.1 million allocated to schemes in the East and South East; £.11.6 allocated to London (handled by the GLA); £5.7 million for the Midlands; £4.4 million for the North East, Yorkshire and Humber region; and £6.3 million for the South and South West.

Among some of the projects to receive a funding boost are St Mungo’s, City of London; the YMCA, Cheltenham; Framework, North Lincolnshire; and more.

The extra money for the 37 projects amounts to £12.5 million for each of the current spending period from 2012 to 2015 and will support the development and improvements of hostels and accommodation services aimed at rough sleepers, as well as those at risk of rough sleeping, and help them into more stable, independent living.

“People who find themselves homeless are one of the most disadvantaged groups in society, but have a positive contribution to make to our communities,” said the HCA’s chief executive Pat Ritchie. “With the right opportunity, they can break the cycle of homelessness and turn their lives around. The projects to benefit from our Homelessness Change Programme funding will offer them the chance to come off the streets by creating safe, welcoming and modern places for them to change their lives long-term.”

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson welcomed the £11.6 million allocated to improve homeless facilities within the capital, and also revealed that the No Second Night Out scheme, launched six months ago, has already helped 382 people to come off the streets. He said: “Hostels play a crucial role in helping people rebuild their lives away from the streets and their success is central to helping us to end rough sleeping in London.

“We have made great strides in providing a rapid response to new rough sleepers with our No Second Night Out project, and the hostels that have received funding today will play a key role in helping those with longer-term needs.

“There are some fantastic organisations working to tackle homelessness in the capital and boosting the quality of the accommodation provided will give the people they help a far better chance to transform their futures.”

Jenny Edwards CBE, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, the umbrella body for homelessness charities, said: “Hostels are a much needed lifeline for those at risk of sleeping rough. They provide decent, safe accommodation and support people to address their problems and become independent. With providers facing real pressures on budgets in the current climate, we welcome this extra funding, which will help to make sure that fewer homeless people return to the streets.

“We also need to prevent rough sleeping before it begins. To do this we call on all local authorities to adopt the No Second Night Out standard. The project is already showing the value of helping people the moment they arrive on the streets, before they fall into a lifestyle of rough sleeping.”