Agenda item

Presentation to be heard.

The Sub-Committee received a presentation from a representative of the MHCLG.

The following points were noted:

The presentation, delivered by a representative from MHCLG, focused on homelessness and rough sleeping, particularly in the City of London. It aimed to provide updates on government strategy, funding changes, and sub-regional collaboration.

Government Strategy and Funding

• The government is moving towards a simplified, single funding pot for homelessness and rough sleeping, encouraging local flexibility.
• A new national strategy is expected in autumn, continuing existing goals: building homes, reducing temporary accommodation, and ending rough sleeping within 10 years.
• Emphasis is shifting from rough sleeping as a subset to a broader single homelessness pathway approach, with early intervention and prevention at its core.

Local Government Outcomes Framework

• A new framework includes 13 priority outcomes, with homelessness and rough sleeping ranked highest.
• Key metrics include numbers in temporary accommodation, long-term rough sleepers, and prevention success rates.

Challenges and Priorities

• Despite funding, local pressures may divert resources from rough sleeping to broader homelessness needs.
• The Target Priority Group (TPG) identifies entrenched rough sleepers needing intensive, wraparound support. City of London has identified 27 such individuals.
• Sub-regional data shows 956 TPG clients across London, with 220 classified as “Wanderers” who move between boroughs.

Asylum Seekers and Prevention

• Some asylum seekers with positive determinations end up rough sleeping due to unsuitable housing offers or misinformation.
• The government is piloting a Rough Sleeping Assessment Tool to better identify those truly at risk.

Multi-Agency and Community Collaboration

• Success depends on partnerships across statutory services, commissioned providers, and the voluntary, community, and faith sectors.
• The City’s unique challenge is its imported rough sleeping population, requiring strong sub-regional cooperation.

Enforcement and Public Confidence

• Enforcement should be a last resort, used alongside support when individuals reject help or pose risks to public safety.

Cross-Government and Legislative Context

• The upcoming strategy will involve cross-departmental accountability, including NHS and Ministry of Justice.
• The Vagrancy Act has been repealed, reflecting a shift away from criminalising rough sleeping.

City of London’s Role and Next Steps

• The City is seen as a barometer for change and a potential convenor for a London-wide conversation on homelessness.
• There’s an opportunity to leverage the Lord Mayor’s interest and convene stakeholders before the end of the mayoral term.
• Internal coordination across departments (e.g. housing, health, enforcement) remains a priority.

RESOLVED – That, the presentation be noted.