It’s a conceptual shift from crisis support to prevention, Khan said, stopping the “vicious cycle” of homelessness in its tracks.
“Rising numbers of people sleeping rough have led to overstretched services, that are forced to prioritise short-term crisis management over long-term prevention – which, while helping thousands of individuals in a time of need, doesn’t tackle the root causes or turn the tide on rising homelessness.”
“We know the best way to end rough sleeping is to stop it before it starts. That’s why we’re putting prevention at the heart of our response.”
Big Issue has long been calling for a focus on prevention to tackle homelessness, and it is an idea that is picking up traction all over the UK. Wales’ “radical” new Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation (Wales) Bill, will give local authorities more tools to take action up to six months before a person falls into homelessness. The current limit is a meagre 56 days.
Big Issue founder Lord John Bird has long urged the government to establish a dedicated Ministry of Poverty Prevention and Cure, coordinating a response to poverty that focuses on root causes.
The crossbench peer said the broadening of focus from the immediate homelessness crisis to long-term prevention was vital and that he was pleased to see that reflected in the mayor’s new rough sleeping plan.
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
“It’s vital we do more for the estimated half a million Londoners living in extreme poverty – unable to properly feed, clothe or keep themselves warm – before they fall further down the terrible spiral that leads to the cold, hard streets of our capital.
“Ending rough sleeping in London by 2030 is an audaciously bold promise. Stopping the numbers rising will be a start. Others have promised the same but it’s never been achieved. Let’s hope this plan reaches the parts that its predecessors never got close to.”
What is the plan to end rough sleeping in London by 2030?
Sadiq Khan first announced his plan to end homelessness by 2030 ahead of last year’s mayoral contest, pledging a £10m funding package over three years.
This money will be used to transform and expand a network of ending homelessness hubs across the capital, providing 24/7 specialist support.
The £17m funding injection from the UK government – first announced in January – will go a long way to increase the availability of housing-led routes out of rough sleeping, funding 500 home refurbishments.
The mayor also plans to put more support workers and volunteers in community settings such as day centres and food banks, so support plans can be established for people to prevent them being forced to sleep on the streets.
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
The conceptual shift away from crisis support and towards prevention was welcomed by Emma Haddadd, chief executive of St Mungo’s.
“Rough sleeping is a crisis and should not be a prerequisite for help,” she said. “For too long, people facing homelessness have had to endure the trauma of sleeping on the streets before they can access life-saving support.
“We welcome the mayor’s ambition to end the verification-based model for accessing help.”
Khora, from the mayor’s Lived Experience Advisory Group, echoed this.
“No one should have to sleep on the street, at the station, on a bench. By the time someone is there, something has already gone wrong,” she said. “Rough sleeping and the damage it does is avoidable, but services in London are full and tend to respond to people too late, after a crisis, making problems even harder to resolve.”
Rough sleeping is only the most visible manifestation of the “human catastrophe” of homelessness, councillor Grace Williams, London Councils‘ deputy chair and executive member for housing and regeneration, pointed out.
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
“Rough sleeping is the most extreme and visible form of homelessness, but we know London’s homelessness pressures are wide ranging, with one in 50 Londoners homeless and living in temporary accommodation,” she said.
Structural drivers – like a highly competitive private housing market, and an absence of social homes – are worsening this crisis.
John Glenton, executive director of care and support at Riverside housing association said Sadiq Khan’s plan comes at a crucial time with London having just seen the largest ever number of people sleeping rough during the winter months.
“We are heartened by the new approach and we are confident this comprehensive package of measures will reduce the number of people sleeping rough in London,” he said.
“However, to significantly and sustainably cut the number of people sleeping rough in London we bwill need larger numbers of one-bed accommodation available and also require a significant increase in the amount of social housing in London so people can access housing which is financially sustainable for them in the long-term.”
Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
