No one should have to sleep on the streets. That’s why the Labour government has announced a new national rough sleeping programe to provide everyone with a route off the streets this winter, as part of Andy Burnham’s urgent national drive to end rough sleeping.
The Labour Government will allocate £1.9 million of funding to support homelessness prevention in Exeter. This funding will go towards emergency accommodation, using innovative approaches adopted during the pandemic, and will also offer practical support with mental health and access to work.
Steve Race, Labour MP for Exeter said:
“When Labour was last in Government, we reduced rough-sleeping levels to a record low. After 14 years of Tory cuts, we can all see the impact this has had when we walk down the High Street in Exeter.
“I’ve previously joined the outreach teams at both St Petrock’s (of which I’m also a Patron) and Julian House on their early morning walkabouts to see the challenges first-hand, and I know from speaking to people across the city that tackling this issue is a priority for Exeter.
“I’m delighted that the Prime Minister is taking immediate action on this, bringing leaders from across society together to implement lasting change, backed by vital funding.
“Anyone working with people sleeping rough will know that it’s not just a roof over their head that they need – it can also require wrap around support for trauma and addiction. Working together, we can deal with these root-causes of rough sleeping and give people the opportunities they need to get back on their feet.”
Cllr Yvonne Atkinson, Portfolio Lead for Housing and Homelessness on Exeter City Council said:
“As Portfolio Holder for housing and homelessness prevention, I am delighted that the Prime Minister has pledged to work with councils, charities, housing, voluntary and faith groups to end rough sleeping for Christmas.
At Exeter City Council, we are looking at how we can achieve that here. People become homeless for many reasons which we need to understand. For some they end up sleeping on our streets through poverty, family breakup, substance abuse, addiction and mental health problems.
Everyone has the right to a room of their own and shelter from the elements. I hope with the support of the excellent agencies already working with homeless people here in Exeter that we can work together to achieve the Prime minister’s ambition and eradicate rough sleeping here.”
