By Tony O’Riley-
The Mayor of Greater Manchester and City Mayor of Salford have warned of a “second wave of homelessness” as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, making an urgent call on Government to strengthen the support available to local authorities and rough sleeper initiatives.
Andy Burnham and Paul Dennett, the Greater Manchester lead on Housing, Homelessness and Infrastructure have both written to the Government following submission of evidence by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to the Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on the impact of COVID-19 on homelessness and the private rented sector. Their letter is based on cynical expectations that the British government will not sustain the steps it has taking to provide accommodation for a vast majority of the homeless during the coronavirus crises.
Burnham warned that regional divides could worsen unless deprived areas which are being hit hardest by the pandemic are given the help they need. Concerns were also raised that local authorities serving poorer communities that have had their government funding cut compared to areas where the virus has been less prevalent.
It follows a fall in Salford council’s allocation of funding by £1.7 million from the first round of funding – despite the city recording the highest recorded death rate in the UK in recent months. And Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has made clear that not all coronavirus-related costs will be covered by the government. Campaigners for the homeless are already worried that those who have enjoyed the comfort of a roof over their heads during the coronavirus period may be found back on the streets once it is over.
Some have pointed to the homelessness reduction Act in 2018 which was expected to address homelessness and reduce the number of people without accommodation. Since its implementation, the number of homeless households in temporary accommodation increased by 8% prior to the Uk lockdown. A lot of this is blamed on the government, but in reality has occurred because many council do not part with the huge cash given to the by the government to address homelessness.
Wrong
The Mayor says that it would be “wholly wrong” for the Government to walk back from the ‘Everyone In’ policy to house all people experiencing homelessness, including those sleeping rough, during the ongoing pandemic and its aftermath. They warn that without further funding and a continuation of this policy there will be “an increase in rough sleeping and a return to unsafe living conditions that threaten the lives of people at risk from fatal infection”.
Burnham and Dennett are calling for a series of measures from the Government in the face of “an imminent and foreseeable step change in the number of families facing extreme challenges in meeting their housing costs”, including removing the benefit cap and the two child limit to Universal Credit”.
Research during the Covid-19 lockdown suggests that most rough sleepers have been happier since being housed and suffered less anxiety than when on the streets. Most have also been breaching social distancing in various B&B’s in the country.