ADD2739 Training programme on Rough Sleeping and Migration 2025-27

1.1.    During 2023-24, 11,993 people were seen sleeping rough in London (a 19 per cent increase from 2022-23). Of these, 66 per cent were new to the streets (a 25 per cent increase on 2022-23). UK nationals accounted for 45 per cent (compared to 49 per cent in 2022-23). People from Europe (excluding the UK) made up 25 per cent of the whole; for the first time, this group was outnumbered by those from the rest of the world, who made up 30 per cent. 
1.2.    In his 2018 London Housing Strategy, the Mayor set out his aim for a sustainable route off the streets for every rough sleeper in London. In June 2018 he published his Rough Sleeping Plan of Action, which outlines the steps that must be taken by City Hall, government and others to achieve this aim. In 2021, the Mayor refreshed his Rough Sleeping Commissioning Framework, which sets out the overarching and cross-cutting priorities underpinning the GLA’s commissioning activities from 2021 to 2024. 
1.3.    Since taking office, the Mayor has been expanding the pan-London rough sleeping services that the GLA funds and commissions. These services – collectively forming the GLA Rough Sleeping programme – are for people with experience, or at risk, of sleeping rough. They are initiatives to tackle rough sleeping that cannot or would not be provided at a London borough level, as they either meet a very specific need, or deliver, at the pan-London/multi-borough level. Since 2016, the GLA Rough Sleeping programme has supported over 17,600 people to leave the streets for good. 
1.4.    MD2559 (March 2020) approved receipt and expenditure of £3.32m of funding, secured from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG’s) Controlling Migration Fund (CMF), to expand various core services; and develop initiatives for non-UK national rough sleepers. This MD included approval for a delegation of authority to the Executive Director of Housing and Land, in consultation with the relevant Deputy Mayor, to approve funding allocations up to £1.9m for additional non-UK national specialist services and initiatives arising from priorities to be set by a new governance group.
1.5.    The new group on migrant rough sleeping was set up in 2020 as the Homeless Migrants Advisory Panel. One of the services commissioned, following consultation with this group was the training programme that this ADD seeks approval to recommission.
1.6.    This programme was commissioned in 2021. Homeless Link, in partnership with Praxis Community Projects, made a successful bid. The contract started in January 2022 for 18 months; there was an option to extend for an additional 18 months, and options to expand the contract with other training courses.
1.7.    The GLA secured £0.06m in 2022-23 from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) to fund a migrant health and substance misuse project. This included training, aimed at frontline staff, on eligibility for drug and alcohol services for people with unclear or limited entitlements. MD3089 (March 2023) approved the expenditure of £7,361 of 2022-23 OHID funding, to exercise an option in the Homeless Link contract to deliver additional training in 2022-23. 
1.8.    MD3135 (June 2023) repurposed £0.05m CMF underspend from other projects, to exercise an option in the Homeless Link contract to extend the training programme for 18 months, from 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2024.
1.9.    ADD2701 (February 2024) approved reallocating revenue expenditure of £14,085 from OHID. This was to vary the training contract with Homeless Link to deliver a training programme in 2023-24, on eligibility for drug and alcohol treatment services for homeless migrants.
1.10.    The training programme has consistently delivered on its KPIs, with quarterly attendance averaging 100 people. There has also been very positive feedback from attendees. The programme has been meeting the training needs of frontline staff, and the content of core training courses has been regularly updated. Ad hoc sessions have also been delivered quarterly to reflect constantly changing policy and practice affecting the entitlements and support options of homeless migrants.
1.11.    £60,000 from MHCLG’s CMF is currently in reserves. This funding was received in 2020-21, and approved under MD2559 to be allocated for specialist services and initiatives for non-UK nationals sleeping rough. MHCLG confirmed in 2021 that it had no objection to any plans for diverting or carrying forward the CMF funding to future financial years, as the grant was paid under section 31 of the Local Government Act 2013. 
1.12.    This ADD seeks approval for expenditure of the remaining £60,000 of CMF funding in 2025-26 and part of 2026-27. This is to recommission a training programme for the homelessness and migrant sectors on supporting homeless migrants.
 

2.1.    The new training programme on supporting non-UK nationals will aim to continue upskilling the homelessness and migrant sectors to better support non-UK nationals sleeping rough in London. The training programme will seek to increase understanding of this group’s needs and rights, and the tools, opportunities and barriers in the system to support them; and improve the level of collaboration between the migrant and homelessness sectors. An upskilled sector staff will future-proof the work funded through the Life Off The Streets programme to support non-UK nationals sleeping rough. The training programme will run for 15 months, and support 200 workers in the homelessness and migrant sectors to produce better outcomes for non-UK national rough sleepers.
2.2.    Training will be available to workers in the homelessness sector (including those in street outreach teams and homelessness day centres), and those in the migrant and legal advice sectors. The programme will also promote networking between homelessness and migrant organisations.
2.3.    The programme will include online training and workshops; in-person sessions; second-tier advice; a regular newsletter with relevant updates; and a community of learners. Key elements of the training programme will include: 
•    housing options for non-UK rough sleepers 
•    understanding rough sleeping and homelessness services. 
2.4.    The programme will be procured competitively for an initial term of 15 months, with the possibility of an extension (if additional funding is made available) of up to 33 months.
 

3.1.    Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, as public authorities, the Mayor and the GLA are subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty, and must have “due regard” of the need to:  
•    eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation  
•    advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not  
•    foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.  
3.2.    Protected characteristics under section 149 of the Equality Act are age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, and marriage or civil partnership status (all except the last being “relevant” protected characteristics).  
3.3.    Objective 3 of the Mayor’s equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, Inclusive London, is “to address the specific barriers that prevent some rough sleepers exiting rough sleeping and rebuilding their lives”.  
3.4.    The funding referenced in this decision will help to tackle the inequalities experienced by certain groups of Londoners most affected by homelessness and rough sleeping. Of those seen sleeping rough in 2023-24:  
•    55 per cent were non-UK nationals  
•    24 per cent were Black or Black British  
•    4 per cent were Roma 
•    48 per cent had a mental health need  
•    16 per cent were female  
•    59 per cent were aged 26-45  
•    9 per cent were under 26  
•    11 per cent were over 55.  
3.5.    Equality, integration and inclusion are the drivers behind the training programme. Migrant homelessness in London, and specifically rough sleeping, disproportionately affects people with certain protected characteristics. The work to improve understanding of the needs and demographics of non-UK nationals sleeping rough in London will reduce uncertainty and discrimination facing vulnerable migrant groups. This includes challenges such as discrimination, difficulties renting private property, problems gaining employment, discriminatory treatment stemming from confusion about entitlements to services, and resulting mental health problems. 
 

Key risks and issues  
4.1.    The key risks and issues are outlined in the table below:

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities 
 
4.2.    The Mayor’s London Housing Strategy sets out the aim to provide a sustainable route off the streets for every rough sleeper in London. The Mayor’s Rough Sleeping Commissioning framework, published in August 2021, includes a priority to meet the health needs of people sleeping rough. 
4.3.    There are no known conflicts of interest for those involved in drafting or clearance of this report. 
 

5.1.    The Assistant Director of Housing’s approval is sought for the expenditure of £60,000 from MHCLG’s CMF received in 2020-21, currently in GLA reserves. This is to recommission a training programme for the homelessness and migrant sectors on supporting non-UK nationals. It is expected that spend will be approximately £50,000 in 2025-26 and £10,000 in 2026-27.
5.2.    This programme and budget are managed by the Rough Sleeping team – part of the Specialist Housing and Services unit within the Housing and Land directorate.
 

6.1.    The project will be delivered according to the following timetable: