District Councils’ Network on extra protection for rough sleepers and renters
Responding to the Government’s extension of the eviction ban and £10 million of additional funding for councils to support rough sleepers, Cllr Giles Archibald, DCN Better Lives spokesperson, said:
“The Government is right to have granted this extension, which will move thousands of struggling tenants away from the cliff edge of becoming homeless and help protect rough sleepers who are most vulnerable from the risk of COVID-19.
“This is an issue we have raised regularly with government. The extension is welcome, and we must now use this time to put in place a plan to support people that are risk of eviction and homelessness when the ban is eventually lifted.
Our research has shown that there are nearly half a million households who spend over half their income on private rent are at most risk of eviction as a result of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Councils will continue to work with rough sleepers in their communities to provide them with accommodation, and look forward to working with partners to ensure they receive their vaccination against COVID-19.
“The pandemic is impacting on lower income households the hardest, we must all work together across our villages, towns and cities on a plan to boost jobs and earnings, to provide adequate welfare and employment support, and to increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
The District Councils’ Network (DCN) is a cross-party member led network providing a single voice to 187 district councils. District councils in England deliver 86 out of 137 essential local government services to over 22 million people – 40 per cent of the population – and cover 68 per cent of the country by area. They play a key role in local communities, providing services such as building homes, collecting waste, regenerating town centres, preventing homelessness, keeping streets clean and maintaining parks.
CONTACT: District Councils’ Network press office, 020 7664 3333
Date: December 2020
