Read St Mungo's representation submitted to the Government ahead of this year's Autumn Statement
Key recommendations
Increase funding for services that support people with the most multiple disadvantage, including assertive outreach, cross-boundary navigator teams and emergency accommodation models.
Establish a multi-year Housing and Support Pathway Fund to expand the supply of supported housing, Housing First accommodation and move-on housing, ensuring people experiencing or at risk of homelessness can access the right home, with the right level of support, at the right time.
Restore housing affordability and improve housing accessibility by uprating Local Housing Allowance (LHA), abolishing the Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) and uprating the temporary accommodation subsidy. The Government should uprate LHA rates to at least the 30th percentile of local rents and commit to annual uprating, abolish the SAR, whilst simultaneously reforming and uprating temporary accommodation subsidy rates. This should reflect the true cost of providing accommodation and reduce financial pressures on local authorities.
Establish a multi-year Homelessness Prevention Fund to support local authorities, housing providers and specialist homelessness organisations to intervene early and prevent homelessness before crisis occurs. The fund should support tenancy sustainment, specialist prevention services, housing advice and targeted interventions for groups at heightened risk of homelessness, including people leaving hospitals, prisons and asylum accommodation, ensuring no one is discharged into homelessness.
Invest in an Employment Support Fund for People at Risk of Homelessness bringing together housing, employment and health support to help people access and sustain good-quality work.
