Autumn Budget 2024 and homelessness
This week, the Government published its Autumn Budget setting out a significant change in fiscal policy from that of its previous administrators. In it, the Chancellor, Ms Reeves, announced additional funds for house building and a £230m fund to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next year.
Additional funding to address homelessness across the country is encouraging, but this extra money will only provide temporary reprieve from a growing problem.
In recent weeks the Government’s department for housing released data showing a significant increase in the numbers of people sleeping rough across England, this was followed by a sharp rise in the amount of individuals and families accommodated in temporary housing. Both increases point to a rise in homelessness driven by the recent cost of living crisis, a situation which continues for many people despite a drop in inflation, as well as decades of under investment in social and affordable housing. The data fails to identify the amount of people who are also accommodated in voluntary or third-sector housing providers, were it to do so, the numbers could be far greater.
Coupled with the rise of homelessness and rough sleeping, we, and many other organisations across the country, are seeing an increase in the complex nature of support needs for those who find themselves without a home. This is further compounded by financial hardship for those who are often unable to access employment and have been overlooked when freezes to welfare benefits were implemented for a sustained period of time.
The increased demand for support and the complex needs of those accessing services, is also having impacts on the staff who provide assistance to individuals who are homeless. The short-term approach of funding streams to tackle homelessness often leaves organisations like Maninplace in a difficult position of being unable to offer long-term employment opportunities to its staff, creating insecurities, impacting their mental health, and leaving employees facing the prospect of financial hardship or possible homelessness themselves.
Any funding put aside to address homelessness should be welcomed, but a longer-term approach is vital to achieving a more sustainable and achievable future of ending homelessness.
Substantial investment is needed to fund organisations providing help, enabling them to offer sustained support to its service users and offering a far more beneficial holistic approach, rather than short-term help that often leaves areas of need unaddressed. More affordable and appropriate housing must be built for individuals and families, but not just in big cities, small urban areas must be included too. An end to the “right to buy” scheme should be implemented, increasing the amount of housing stock available to those on lower incomes and providing opportunities for people who have been homeless to access a home of their own.
A safe and secure living environment is a right for every person, it is not a luxury. Our hope is that announcements made this week are the start of real investment and motivation to ensure everyone has a home, of closer partnerships and round table discussions with charities and voluntary sector organisations who see daily, the harsh reality of homelessness and rough sleeping, and of a joined up approach to addressing the complex needs that so often affect those just trying to survive on our streets.