The Mayor of the East Midlands has welcomed the Government’s newly launched homelessness strategy.
The National Plan to End Homelessness has three key pledges: to halve the number of long-term rough sleepers; end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families; and prevent more households from becoming homeless in the first place – with the Government pledging to invest £3.5 billion over the next three years to ensure action is taken towards ending homelessness and rough sleeping.
The plan also urges mayors to “lead with ambition”, backed by new, simplified funding to “drive collaboration between councils, services, and partners” and ensure “they can focus on spending money on meeting local needs”.
Welcoming the plan, Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “Homelessness is a challenge that every community faces, and this strategy sets out our mission to prevent homelessness and eradicate rough sleeping. Homelessness is not inevitable, and we will address it together.”
“As such, I welcome the Government’s recognition of the vital role mayors play in this work. While the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) does not deliver frontline services as our local authorities do, it is my role to provide strong leadership so that we can collaborate across local boundaries, with decisions made by people who understand our region, its challenges, but also our strengths.
“Here in the East Midlands, we are already seeing the benefits of Government investment into tackling rough sleeping in particular, and we are working closely with partners across the region through the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant initiative to support people at risk and tackle rough sleeping head-on.”
Backed by £100,000 of government funding, the initiative aims to create a clearer pathway to transform services for people in need.
It builds on progress already happening in Nottinghamshire and aims to bring a consistent and effective strategy across the East Midlands — from busy cities to smaller towns and rural communities. By strengthening services and improving coordination, EMCCA wants to ensure people experiencing or at risk of homelessness receive better, faster, and more consistent support.
Announcing the initiative in October, Mayor Claire said: “This investment will help us to bring services together, share data and best practice, and design a more inclusive and effective system across the East Midlands.”
Launching their “bold” strategy today, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said it had been “shaped by the voices of those who have experienced homelessness” and would “support the most vulnerable in our society to find their feet and improve their lives”.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “Homelessness is one of the most profound challenges we face as a society, because at the heart, it’s about people. Families deserve stability, children need a safe place to grow, and individuals simply want the dignity of a home.
“This strategy is shaped by the voices of those who’ve lived through homelessness and the frontline workers who fight tirelessly to prevent it.
“Through our new strategy we can build a future where homelessness is rare, brief, and not repeated. With record investment, new duties on public services, and a relentless focus on accountability, we will turn ambition into reality.”