What impact will reduced funding and changes to homelessness policies have on London’s homeless hostels and residents?
The number of people sleeping rough on London’s streets has significantly increased over the past two years. Over 6,000 people were seen sleeping rough by outreach workers during 2012/13, of which 68 per cent were new arrivals onto the streets [1].
Darren Johnson, Chair of the London Assembly’s Housing Committee visited a Broadway hostel in Hammersmith to speak to residents, staff and Howard Sinclair, Broadway’s Chief Executive about the impact of funding reductions and changes to government policies.
The Chair was told that over the last three years homelessness services across London have received a 25 per cut reduction in funding, putting pressure on essential services that support London’s most vulnerable people.
Hostel staff noted that there are many interacting factors which contribute to someone becoming homeless and that funding targeted at specific services rather than at the individual, depersonalises the essential support needed to help vulnerable Londoners off the streets.
As boroughs look to make savings, homelessness hostels are joining forces with support networks within housing, health and financial services, working creatively to maximise resources and provide tailored services to vulnerable Londoners, such as access to district nurses and regular GP visits to the hostel.
Broadway’s hostel in Hammersmith supports repeatedly excluded rough sleepers with complex needs and by working creatively with neighbouring services, the hostel has continued to provide tailored services to vulnerable Londoners.
Darren Johnson, Housing Committee Chair said, “We are continuing to see a rise in the number of rough sleepers on our streets. These are people at the sharpest end of London’s housing crisis, many who are extremely vulnerable even before becoming homeless.
“Support services like Broadway’s Hammersmith hostel provide an essential safety net to these vulnerable people and it is important that they are able to continue to support people in desperate need.”
Notes:
- Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) report announced in June 2013 that 6,437 people were seen sleeping rough by outreach workers in 2012/13.
- Photo: Jenny Travassos Area Manager, Ricardo Lopez Manager of Service, Howard Sinclair Broadway Chief Executive and Darren Johnson Chair of the Housing Committee.