We will tackle homelessness in London by delivering more affordable homes and providing better support to rough sleepers.
Ending rough sleeping
The Mayor has committed to end rough sleeping in London by 2012.
The commitment, contained within the draft London Housing Strategy, takes forward in the capital the vision of the government’s national rough sleeping strategy to bring rough sleeping to an end once and for all.
In July 2011 he published for consultation his Rough Sleeping Commissioning Framework 2011-2015. This draft document sets out a framework against which he will take forward the commissioning responsibilities for rough sleeping devolved to him from central government.
Arlington House initiative
On 10 June 2010, the Mayor opened Arlington House, a new initiative to not only provide accommodation to homeless Londoners but give them the training they need to get into work. Watch a video now.
Role of the London Delivery Board
In February 2009, the Mayor established the London Delivery Board to deliver his commitment to end rough sleeping in the capital. The board is a strategic partnership of central government, London’s boroughs, voluntary sector providers and other key agencies.
By the first anniversary of its creation, the London Delivery Board has already:
- Helped three quarters of London’s 205 most entrenched rough sleepers off the streets;
- Created a new outreach service to tackle rough sleeping on London’s buses;
- Established a street doctor service, starting in March, to work with vulnerable long term rough sleepers still living on the streets;
- Re-launched the Pan-London Reconnection Protocol to help rough sleepers reconnect with their home areas;
- Developed a targeted programme to prevent vulnerable rough sleepers returning to the streets from hostel or other accommodation;
- Agreed a system with London’s boroughs to help rough sleepers accessing services across several boroughs;
- Promoted volunteering opportunities for those wanting to end rough sleeping.
To find out more about what has been achieved, and what our focus will be over the next two years, read the London Delivery Board Annual Progress Report and Action Plan 2010-2012:
Life expectancy is higher in 189 of the world’s 195 countries than it is for London’s rough sleepers
