St Mungo’s welcomes PM’s announcement on supported housing

Wednesday 25 October 2017

The Prime Minister announced today during PMQs the government would not apply the Local Housing Allowance cap to supported housing or the wider social rented sector. The government had intended to apply Local Housing Allowance rates to tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit in the social rented sector in April 2019.

Dominic Williamson, Executive Director of Strategy and Policy at St Mungo’s said:

“We are delighted that the government has listened to concerns highlighted in our recent Save Hostels Rebuild Lives campaign.

“This will be welcome news for people who are homeless and other vulnerable groups and a step in the right direction for supported housing funding. We await next week’s full proposals with interest.”

On World Homelessness Day (10.10.17) St Mungo’s delivered a 12,000 strong petition to parliament calling on government to work with the homelessness sector to find a more secure funding system to support hostels and other supported housing to meet the needs of the thousands of people sleeping rough in England each night.

This was the culmination of months of campaigning for the charity’s Save Hostels Rebuild Lives campaign.

Williamson added: “Protecting supported housing is vital if the government is serious about its ambition to end rough sleeping. Hostels, and the specialist support staff who work in them, are the backbone of provision for people who have spent time on the streets.

“Hostels are the primary route out of rough sleeping in this country, and government must first secure these vital services that provide a place of safety and hope for thousands of people.”

The government has announced that it will be publishing its proposals for the future of funding for supported housing on Tuesday 31 October 2017.

NOTES

Press contact: Gemma Hollingshead, St Mungo’s Press & PR Manager 07979 018 734.