If the Government is to deliver its manifesto pledge of ending rough sleeping by 2024 it “must continue the principles and funding of the ‘Everyone In’ initiative or face a post-pandemic surge in the number of people sleeping on the streets.”

That’s the conclusion of the Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping, which has given government 22 recommendations on how it can improve in this area.

The Commission, which is chaired by Lord Bob Kerslake, suggests that government needs to spend £82m a year on top of its previous spending commitment to “have any chance” of ending rough sleeping by 2024.

The Commission’s final report will be published in September and will make an ambitious call for a longer term strategic response based on the principles that underpinned Everyone In.

In total there are 22 recommendations. The key points of these are:

  • The Government must capture and capitalise on the gains that were made as a result of its ‘Everyone In’ policy and the partnership working which flowed from it as a matter of urgency, and maintain the necessary funding
  • The cross-sector, cross-departmental, momentum initiated by central Government at the start of the pandemic, married with the additional support and resourcing provided since, has clearly demonstrated that street homelessness can be ended
  • Future funding streams made available to local authorities must be more flexible and have longevity if the prevention and long term support measures needed to end rough sleeping are to be effectively and appropriately implemented as determined by local need in a ‘spend to save’ approach
  • That street homelessness is treated as a public health and housing priority which requires a cross-Governmental approach with co-ordination on both strategy and delivery, at all levels
  • To prevent more homelessness and rough sleeping in the future we need to maintain the £20 uplift in Universal Credit and the change to local housing allowance, and
  • Investing in better and more permanent solutions such as the Housing First initiative alongside the additional spend in temporary accommodation, with wrap around support is vital.

Commission Chair, Lord Kerslake, said: “For me, the most important lesson is that with the right combination of Government support and collaboration across, and between, the key service providers, it is possible to end homelessness and rough sleeping.

“The increased funding made available was an important factor in the success of ‘Everyone In’. And we estimate that an extra £82m per annum, or 32% on top of the planned increase in rough sleeping reduction spending, would be needed to maintain and build on the advances that have been made.

“Which is, I think, a small price to pay when you consider what can be achieved and the lives that could be saved.

“Reducing and preventing rough sleeping and homelessness is both the right thing to do and will reduce subsequent costs and pressures on health and other services.

“But it is not just the amount of funding that is important, but its flexibility. During the pandemic local providers were able to respond in the way that they thought best met the needs of those needing support. There is a vital need to retain this flexibility and have longer term funding, not annual settlements, so that service providers can properly plan ahead.

“If we fail to learn the lessons of ‘Everyone In’, all the signs from the Commission’s work are that the situation will get worse not better, and homelessness and rough sleeping will increase. That would be an enormous lost opportunity for the Government to deliver on its rough sleeping commitment, and a personal tragedy for those affected.

“We are at a pivotal moment. I fervently hope that the Government does the right thing and takes forward the recommendations in this interim report.”

St Mungo’s Chief Executive Steve Douglas CBE, who advises the Commission said: “The spirit of collaboration and cross-party, cross-sector, cross-departmental working – particularly between health and homelessness – that we saw during to this public health emergency, has continued with this Commission.

“We have seen such a fantastic response from a wide range of organisations and individuals, including those with lived experience of homelessness who have taken the time to feed into its work and we want to thank everyone who has contributed their time, knowledge and expertise.

“Their input, and the expert chairing of Lord Kerslake, means this a truly comprehensive and considered piece of work. We fully support his call on the Government to take forward the recommendations.”

Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said: “The success of councils in getting thousands of people sleeping rough off the streets during the pandemic is testament to local and central government working together to transform people’s lives for the better.

“The funding provided by government throughout the COVID-19 crisis has been crucial in enabling councils to tackle rough sleeping and get people into safe, suitable and Covid-secure accommodation.

“However, as this important report says, it is now vital that we ensure this is not a one-off emergency response, and that we build on this and embrace the opportunity to make this the new normal and end rough sleeping altogether.

“We want to work closely with government on a cross-departmental homelessness prevention strategy, which sees councils supported with long-term funding to prevent homelessness from happening in the first place, with the changes to welfare benefits introduced following the coronavirus outbreak maintained for as long as they are needed.”

Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning – and a member of the Kerslake Commission – said: “There can be no doubt that ‘Everyone In’ was a gamechanger and a major success. The government not only provided a clear directive but also invested crucial extra funding into homelessness services and worked effectively in partnership with local councils, the voluntary sector, and others.

“Thousands of rough sleepers were brought off London’s streets in an impressively short timeframe, which undoubtedly saved lives.

“London boroughs want this work to continue and to do everything we can to help end rough sleeping altogether. The government shouldn’t lose sight of what made ‘Everyone In’ a success.

“We need longer-term commitments – especially in terms of funding for local services. Giving councils sufficient resources is essential for reducing rough sleeping on a permanent basis.”