Homeless Link Welcomes Extra Funding For Hostels

Housing minister Grant Shapps has announced a further £5m on top of the £37.5m already announced as part of the Homelessness Change Programme to improve hostels and accommodation services for rough sleepers. In response Jenny Edwards CBE, Chief Executive of Homeless Link,  said:

“Homelessness is rising, and as a result more people are finding themselves at risk of ending up on the streets. 
 
“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. 
 
“Although we have improved accommodation in recent years, service cuts have put this progress at risk and have led to bed spaces and support services being lost across England.
 
“We welcome the announcement of extra funding, which helps 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 are calling on all local authorities to adopt the No Second Night Out standard. The No Second Night Out pilot in central London is already showing the value of helping people the moment they arrive on the streets, before they fall into a lifestyle of rough sleeping.”