Petition to extend support for rough sleepers beyond the pandemic 

• WESTMINSTER and Camden are in the top 10 of local authority areas across the country for the number of rough sleepers.

There is a rare opportunity to win rights for rough sleepers not only in Westminster and Camden but across the country.

Because of the coronavirus crisis on March 27 Luke Hall MP, minister for local government and homelessness, wrote to every local authority in England.

He instructed them to provide temporary accommodation to all rough sleepers. He explained the approach as aiming “ultimately on preventing deaths”.

The government’s stance proves what can be achieved to alleviate deprivation and suffering, when the political will is there.

Every year the Office for National Statistics data show that rough sleepers live on average just over half as long as the general population.

Therefore, it will not be consistent with “preventing deaths” for rough sleeping to be allowed to resume after the lockdown, either for current rough sleepers or future ones.

The leading charities have repeatedly shown that assisting rough sleepers into accommodation is affordable and economically net positive. This is through accident and emergency admissions avoided, employment gains, etc.

Much work lies ahead, but there are evidenced steps the government can take. For example, the “housing first” model has been piloted many times in England with great success.

I have started a petition to ask Luke Hall to extend support for rough sleepers beyond the pandemic.

I hope readers will add their signature to keep up the pressure on the government; to show that we value the lives of rough sleepers: http://www.change.org/EndRoughSleeping2020

ALI NEGYAL
WC2