Ending Rough Sleeping: the role of supported housing

New funding proposals for supported housing put the country’s primary route out of rough sleeping at risk.

This report considers the potential impacts of the proposed new funding system for supported housing on the government’s commitment to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and end it altogether by 2027.

The number of people sleeping rough in England is rising but, despite growing political consensus that the situation is unacceptable, little has been done to protect vital services such as homeless hostels. Previous cuts have already resulted in an 18 per cent reduction in bed spaces between 2010 and 2016. Current proposals would put even more services at risk of closure.

St Mungo’s calls on ministers and MPs to scrap these plans and work with the sector to find a more secure funding system that can meet the needs of the thousands of people sleeping rough in England each night.