| answer text |
<p>To support local authorities effectively, the funding for 2020/21 includes:</p><ul><li>The
Flexible Homelessness Support Grant of £200m which seeks to help local authorities
plan and respond to their local homelessness pressures; and</li><li>A £63m Homelessness
Reduction Grant to implement the Homelessness Reduction Act enabling local authorities
to do more to prevent and relieve homelessness in their areas.</li></ul><p>This is
in addition to the £160m allocation for the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Project,
which seeks to provide thousands of long-term, safe homes for vulnerable rough sleepers
taken off the streets during the COVID-19 pandemic and the £112m Rough Sleeping Initiative
fund. This fund is designed to support the establishment or enhancement of coordinated
local services for rough sleepers, or those at risk of sleeping rough.</p><p>To further
enable local authorities to respond to COVID-19 pressures, we have made over £3.2
billion of additional funding available for their response across the services they
deliver including helping homeless people. This is in addition to £3.2 million targeted
funding to ensure that we minimise the risk to those rough sleepers currently unable
to self-isolate.</p><p>We have announced that Dame Louise Casey will spearhead a Taskforce
to lead the next phase of the Government’s support for rough sleepers during this
pandemic. The Taskforce will work hand-in-hand with councils across the country on
plans to ensure rough sleepers can move into long-term, safe accommodation once the
immediate crisis is over – ensuring as few people as possible return to life on the
streets.</p><p>Additionally, in April 2020 the Government increased the Local Housing
Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants to the 30th percentile
of market rents. This will mean it will be easier for local authorities to fulfil
their homelessness duties by assisting people to find suitable and affordable accommodation
in the private rented sector.</p>
|
|
