Ministers announce 'rough sleeping hubs' amid rising levels of homelessness in England

Eleven centres will be established in spring 2019, providing immediate shelter and rapid assessment for rough sleepers

A homeless man sleeps on the street after one of the coldest nights so far this winter on 13 December 2018 (Getty)

Ministers have announced that 11 new “rough sleeping hubs” will be established next year through a £4.8m project aimed at tackling rising levels of people in England sleeping on the streets.

Unveiling plans for the centres, the government said thousands of vulnerable people will be able to receive specialist support to address mental health problems and provide immediate shelter and rapid assessment for rough sleepers.

It will form part of the already announced £100m rough sleeping strategy and will be launched in 11 areas in the spring across England, including Derby, Liverpool, Preston, Bristol, Lincoln and Nottingham City.

The measures coincide with an announcement from Labour, who have also pledged £100m to give every rough sleeper a place to stay in the winter months – funded through a levy on second homes announced at the party conference in September.

Labour said if in government it would provide emergency accommodation in every area of the country when local temperatures are set to fall below freezing, forming part of their plan to eradicate rough sleeping within the first term of a Jeremy Corbyn-government.

It comes after figures released in October showed that rough sleeping hit a record high in London, with 3,103 people found on the streets of the capital between July and September of 2017, according the Combined Homelessness and Information Network.

And in January, official government data revealed that the number of people sleeping rough in England had increased by 73 per cent over the last three years.

The figures showed that on any given night in autumn last year, 4,751 people were observed on the streets – a record that has more than doubled since 2010.

James Brokenshire, the communities secretary, said: “No one should ever have to face a night on the streets, and as a government we are taking steps to ensure people are never faced with this as their only option.

“These vulnerable people, who may be dealing with complex mental health problems or addictions and require specialist help to tackle these issues and turn their lives around. That’s why these vital new hubs will ensure those on the streets have access to professional help guidance to start their recovery.”

Mr Brokenshire’s department added that a further four hubs will be created later in 2019, and an estimated 6,000 people are expected to receive support from the 15 centres by 2020.

But Labour’s shadow housing secretary, John Healey, said it was a “national shame” that thousands of people will be sleeping rough this winter.

“It beggars belief that there is no guarantee of basic emergency accommodation for these people during cold weather,” he added. “Rough sleeping has risen every year since 2010 as a direct result of decisions made by Conservative ministers and the problem is getting worse.

“Labour’s plan will save lives and needs to be put in place now. Labour will give every rough sleeper a roof over their head, and tackle the root cause of rising homelessness with an end to the freeze on benefits, new rights for renters and a million low-cost homes.”