'Vital' support need to help councils house rough sleepers, as Yorkshire councils reveal they supported 2,200 people during pandemic

Crisis has urged the Government to give sufficient funding to local authorities so they can provide emergency accommodation to anyone facing homelessness throughout the pandemic, as the Yorkshire Post can exclusively reveal that more than 2,200 people were housed in hotels, B&Bs, council housing and other accommodation by the region’s council’s in the first months of lockdown.

Of the 18 local authorities who responded to a Freedom of Information request on the number of people housed during lockdown via the Government’s Everybody In scheme, which provided funding to house rough sleepers and people at risk of homelessness, Leeds provided accommodation for the most people - 567.

Wakefield housed 364, Rotherham 253, and Bradford 192. Even small, rural councils made use of the scheme, with Hambleton housing 38 people and Ryedale 24.

In total, 15 local authorities confirmed they had applied to the Government for funding under its Next Step Accommodation Programme, which the Ministry of Housing, Communities and

Local Government (MHCLG) said will cover property costs and support new tenancies for around 15,0000 vulnerable people who were provided with emergency accommodation during the pandemic.

Chief executive of Crisis, Jon Sparkes, said the “phenomenal” effort by local councils during the pandemic had saved thousands of lives.

He said: “Many of the contracts with hotels ran out at the end of July though and local authorities are now stuck between a rock and a hard place – wanting to do right by those newly homeless but having been provided only piece-meal funding to provide ongoing support. This is a situation we only expect to worsen in the coming months as the economic effects of the pandemic force more people to the brink of homelessness.

“It is vital that local authorities are provided with sufficient funding to make sure they can provide emergency accommodation to anyone facing homelessness in this ongoing public health crisis. We cannot let Everyone In become a policy of the past when the issue is still very much present.”

Rotherham Council’s cabinet member for housing, Coun Dominic Beck, said as well as proving housing during the pandemic, the funding had allowed them to develop a rough sleeper team, offering enhanced support and outreach services. He added: “Any option to continue or enhance funding to provide this service would be really welcomed.”

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said it has spent in the region of £2.43m on emergency accommodation, and the Government support was needed so they could continue to support vulnerable people.

Wakefield Council’s service director for communities, Antony Sadler, said: “Our housing needs service has adapted the way it delivers its services, throughout the pandemic and during lockdown, to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable are met. We were able to respond immediately on the day to homeless people and rough sleepers offering accommodation and support to them.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson said it had already decided to house rough sleepers before Everybody In was announced, and it was “quick to act” using local B&B provision.

“As well as accommodating the rough sleepers, we also provided food to the hostels during lockdown and made arrangements for shielding,” he said.

“Subject to funding we would be happy to accommodate all rough sleepers irrespective of priority need. Our Homelessness Strategy seeks to eliminate rough sleeping.”

The Government said it had given councils “unprecedented” support throughout the pandemic, with nearly 15,000 vulnerable people housed in emergency accommodationto keep them safe.

An MHCLG spokesperson said: “We recognise the importance of identifying interim solutions for rough sleepers while longer-term options are developed. We’re working closely with councils and other organisations – many of which have already offered temporary accommodation for people as they move towards more permanent housing.

“As winter approaches we are also working with the homelessness sector and health experts to consider how shelters can reopen as safely as possible where they are needed.”