Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a new approach to help rough sleepers and those at risk of ending up on the streets this winter.
The scheme will see a ‘Floating Hub’ service set up in up to 17 hotspot areas, offering temporary accommodation and support for people who have struggled with rough sleeping for a long time.
Khan said: “Every Londoner deserves a safe and secure home. The capital is acutely feeling the long-term consequences of a national housing crisis and local authorities have had their budgets slashed by the previous government, forcing them away from preventing homelessness and into crisis management mode.
“My announcement today is about transforming the support that we give to those forced to sleep rough on our streets, and those at risk of rough sleeping.
“That’s why, alongside new Floating Hubs, we are launching two new pilot services to help people move into secure long-term housing.”
Khan added: “These will make sure that more people can get the support they need, when they need it, as we help them off the streets for good.
“As mayor, I have supported nearly 20,000 people off the streets since 2016 and I will work closely with government, councils, experts and partners to deliver my commitment to end rough sleeping for good in London by 2030 as we work together to build a safer, fairer and better London for everyone.”
A new £1m funding pot will be used this winter for intensive support in rough sleeping hotspots and pilot schemes aimed at people with extra needs, including those recently given refugee status.
The investment is expected to help over 350 people sleeping rough or at risk of it.
Two pilot services will give advice and housing support to people leaving asylum accommodation and those moving off the streets, with funding from the London Ending Homelessness Accelerator Programme.
This is designed to prevent homelessness and help people find housing sooner.
Khan is also funding Crisis at Christmas to offer hotel accommodation to those needing extra support over the festive period.
Funding is in place for severe weather emergency protocol accommodation, to help local authorities provide shelter when temperatures drop below zero.
The Mayor’s annual winter rough sleeping campaign is also underway.
This year, it is urging Londoners to use StreetLink to connect rough sleepers to local support services.
Donations can be made online through charity partner TAP London.
Emma Haddad, CEO of St Mungo’s, said: “Rough sleeping is a growing and complex crisis in our capital; it requires bold action if we’re to succeed in the Mayor’s ambition to support everyone off the streets by 2030. We welcome the additional funding being announced today.
“The Mayor of London’s investment in the floating hubs will bring St Mungo’s expert help to more areas of London.
“Our frontline teams have been delivering support through the No Second Night Out hubs since 2017 and we have seen the difference they have made to thousands of people over that time by providing specialist intervention early to end homelessness quickly and allow people to rebuild their lives.”
Haddad added: “The new floating hubs being announced today will help us reach more Londoners.
“They will, in particular, help us reach people who may have previously fallen through the cracks of support, including women and others who have been rough sleeping, often hidden, for longer periods.
“The hubs aim to guide people quickly away from the dangers of the streets towards a safe, stable home with the ongoing support they need.”
She said: “We look forward to working with the Mayor of London and local authorities on this exciting and ambitious approach.
“There is much we can achieve together in the year ahead, in the aim of ending rough sleeping in London for good.”
Hannah Faulkner, head of pan London rough sleeping services and prevention at St Mungo’s, said: “As rough sleeping rises across London, the No Second Night Out floating hub will add a vital response – bringing rapid, on-the-spot assessments and support to people sleeping rough in less resourced areas and to certain groups who are harder to reach.
“No Second Night Out teams work day in and day out to support people sleeping rough, and we see first-hand the real human impact of long-term rough sleeping and how it can impact someone’s recovery from homelessness.
“The floating hub will be a valuable service that will improve routes off the street to a wider and growing group of people in need of support, thereby ending their homelessness sooner.”
Sharon Fernando, marketing officer at StreetLink, said: “We’re delighted to support the Mayor’s latest rough sleeping campaign.
“By searching ‘StreetLink’ and submitting an alert when they see someone sleeping rough, Londoners can help ensure that trained outreach workers are able to search for individuals quickly and offer meaningful support.
“Winter is a particularly dangerous time for people on the streets, and the simple act of raising an alert can be a powerful way to connect a rough sleeper with the help they need.”
