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<p>The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. No one
should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer we published the cross-government
Rough Sleeping Strategy. This set out an ambitious £100 million package to help people
who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping
once and for all. The Government has now committed over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness
and rough sleeping over the current spending review period. In 2018/19, £30 million
in Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) funding provided 1,750 additional bed spaces and
500 rough sleeping support staff. Government support is expanding as we move into
2019/20, with £46 million for the RSI including £12 million to new areas. We expect
this to deliver an additional 750 staff and 2,600 bed spaces this year.</p><p>We are
currently making preparations across Government to prepare for the forthcoming Spending
Review, which includes specific work on Youth Homelessness. In addition, the Homelessness
Reduction Act, the most ambitious reform to homelessness legislation in decades, has
pledged a duty to refer on public services to refer those who are, or at risk of,
homelessness to local authorities. The Homelessness Advice and Support Team supports
implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act and includes specific youth advisers
to work closely with local authorities on issues around Youth Homelessness.</p>
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