Today, 4 September 2019, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out spending plans for government departments in 2020-21, including funding for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to help reduce homelessness and rough sleeping.

Howard Sinclair, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, said:

“We are pleased to see that the Government has started to listen to St Mungo’s Home for Good campaigners by announcing £54 million additional funding to spend on reducing homelessness and rough sleeping in 2020-21.

“The people we work with – many struggling with poor mental health, substance use or domestic violence – are often being left with no option but to sleep rough. With nearly 600 people dying on our streets or while homeless in a year, this really is a matter of life and death.

“Today’s announcement will enable vital services to continue to support people off the street for another year, but the Government can only reverse the tide of rising homelessness by committing to a programme of guaranteed, long-term funding, so that everyone can find and keep a home for good.”