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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 sets 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 spending review period.</p><p>This Government, and my
Department, has policy responsibility for setting the national framework for homelessness
and rough sleeping policy in England alone. It should be noted therefore that the
interventions detailed in this response refer to England alone.</p><p>In its first
year, our Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) provided over 1,750 new bed spaces and 500
staff. This year we have expanded the RSI with investment of £46 million for 246 areas
– providing funding for an estimated 2,600 bed spaces and 750 staff.</p><p>We know
that many rough sleepers have substance misuse needs, and also that rough sleepers
can struggle to access the support they need to tackle substance dependency. As set
out in the Rough Sleeping Strategy we are conducting a rapid audit of health service
provision to rough sleepers, including mental health and substance misuse treatment;
£2 million has been allocated to test community-based models of access to health services
for rough sleepers, including substance misuse services, and new training is being
made available for front-line workers to help them support rough sleepers under the
influence of new psychoactive substances such as spice.</p><p>We are also working
across Government to ensure that rough sleepers who require treatment for substance
misuse have access to the appropriate services. This includes working with the Home
Office to ensure rough sleepers are considered in the forthcoming Alcohol Strategy,
and continuing to support the forthcoming independent review of drugs policy, led
by Dame Carol Black.</p>
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