The Labour Government has today announced a huge raft of support for thousands of people facing homelessness thanks to an urgent £84 million cash injection to councils up and down the country ahead of winter hitting – including £928,533 in Southwark.
Immediate help for children and families in temporary accommodation – including money to pay for food, school travel and laundry – is at the centre of the new funding, which lands on World Homeless Day (10 October).
The funding comes as Southwark Labour continues to redesign the council’s homelessness service to better support those living in the most difficult circumstances. Labour halved rough sleeping the last time they were in government and will do so again, with a cross-departmental plan to tackle homelessness.
The upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill will also significantly reduce homelessness caused with the end of Section 21 ‘No Fault Evictions’.
Welcoming the funding boost, Cllr Sarah King, Leader of Southwark Labour, said:
“Ending homelessness and rough sleeping is central to what we stand for in the Labour Party. The rise in homelessness under the Tories and Lib Dems was a national disgrace, and Labour is absolutely right to take on the moral mission of getting families into the decent homes we all deserve.
“With an additional £1 million for tackling homelessness in Southwark, we will continue to help children into safe and secure places to live – that’s the difference a Labour government makes.”
Housing Secretary, Steve Reed said:
“Homelessness is a national emergency, and we must confront it with urgency and compassion. Too many people are being failed time and time again by a broken system and that has to change.
“We need to get back on track to end homelessness for good – which is why we are providing historic levels of funding to turn the tide through prevention and provide people with the safe, secure home that everyone deserves.”