DCN RESPONDS TO GOVERNMENT’S ROUGH SLEEPING STRATEGY

Responding to today’s publication of the Government’s Rough Sleeping Strategy, Cllr Tom Beattie, Vice Chairman of the District Councils’ Network, said:

“As the housing authorities, district councils are at the forefront of preventing and tackling rough sleeping. This strategy will help Districts tackle the growing problem of homelessness and we look forward to receiving more detail on how the £100 million funding will be allocated.

“Councils and their partners need to be provided with the resources to continue to prevent and tackle rough sleeping. Solutions developed at a local level, are best placed to succeed and we welcome government’s recognition that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling the issue of rough sleeping. We hope this means Districts will have the right flexibilities to address individual issues.

“Key to preventing rough sleeping in the long-term is addressing the lack of affordable, suitable accommodation and social housing on the market. We have long-called for further powers and flexibilities to allow us to deliver the right housing to best meet the needs of our communities.

“While further funding is welcome, any sustainable solution must recognise the crucial issue of housing provision and go further to empower councils to accommodate growing communities, ease pressures on public services and tackle the housing crisis.”

ENDS

District Councils’ Network media office, 020 7664 3333