COVID-19: Housing rough sleepers

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 17 Dec 2020 Closed: 17 May 2021 Parliament page
Rough sleepers are often highly vulnerable, and typically have far more underlying health conditions than other members of society. Rough sleepers were especially vulnerable during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic , when their homelessness led to difficulties following Public Health England’s advice on self-isolation, social distancing and hygiene. … Read more
7 Recommendations
14 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
3 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 6 events
31 Aug
2021
Report published
15 Jun
2021
Correspondence
17 Mar
2021
Report published
1 Mar
2021
Correspondence
23 Feb
2021
Correspondence
25 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
25 Jan 2021
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COVID-19: Housing rough sleepers
Baroness Casey of Blackstock · Rough Sleeping Taskforce Jeremy Pocklington · Ministry of Defence Penny Hobman · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Forty-Ninth Report - COVID-19: housing people sleeping rough HC 934 17 Mar 2021 21 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
Clear
6 Recommendation Accepted
Forty-Ninth Report - COVID-19: hou…
It is uncertain whether the Department will meet its objective of providing 3,300 homes for...
It is uncertain whether the Department will meet its objective of providing 3,300 homes for people sleeping rough by the end of March 2021. Under its Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme, the Department has distributed £161 million funding against bids from … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to write to the committee by May 2021 to report progress on securing 3,300 homes under the Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme and provide details on ensuring supported and affordable housing for move-on.
HM Treasury
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7 Conclusion Accepted
Forty-Ninth Report - COVID-19: hou…
Notwithstanding the evident successes of Everyone In in the first wave of the pandemic, the...
Notwithstanding the evident successes of Everyone In in the first wave of the pandemic, the National Audit Office noted that the Department’s response to the resurgence of COVID-19 in autumn and winter 2020 did not appear as comprehensive as in … Read more
Government Response
The government 'agreed' with the committee's implicit recommendation to keep its response under review, stating that it regularly reviews staffing capacity and ensures resources are aligned with ministerial priorities to support efforts in ending rough sleeping and reducing homelessness.
HM Treasury
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13 Conclusion Accepted
Forty-Ninth Report - COVID-19: hou…
As of January 2021, local authorities said they were expecting to spend an extra £192...
As of January 2021, local authorities said they were expecting to spend an extra £192 million in the 2020–21 financial year, in respect of additional spending on homelessness and rough sleeping as a result of the pandemic.46 The Department considers … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the committee’s points and highlights its commitment of over £750 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping. It also outlines efforts to streamline funding, such as combining grants into the new Homelessness Prevention Grant in 2022.
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion Accepted
Forty-Ninth Report - COVID-19: hou…
In addition, the Department is providing around £700 million for rough sleeping and homelessness in...
In addition, the Department is providing around £700 million for rough sleeping and homelessness in 2020–21, with the majority of this funding distributed through local authorities.49 Before the pandemic, the Department had planned to spend £495 million in 2020–21, as … Read more
Government Response
The government 'agreed' with the committee's observation, reiterating its commitment of over £750 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping for 2021-22. They also noted efforts to streamline funding streams for local authorities by combining grants into one Homelessness Prevention Grant in 2022.
HM Treasury
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19 Conclusion Accepted
Forty-Ninth Report - COVID-19: hou…
Under its Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme, the Department has distributed £161 million funding against bids...
Under its Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme, the Department has distributed £161 million funding against bids from local authorities for the provision of 3,300 homes for housing rough sleepers.76 In October the Department led us to believe the majority of these … Read more
Government Response
The government 'agrees' with the committee's observation (mistakenly calling it a recommendation) and commits to reporting progress on the delivery of 3,300 homes under the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, providing further details on housing routes, and writing to the Committee by May 2021.
HM Treasury
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20 Conclusion Accepted
Forty-Ninth Report - COVID-19: hou…
The Department described these 3,300 homes as “move-on” accommodation, although it made clear its assumption...
The Department described these 3,300 homes as “move-on” accommodation, although it made clear its assumption that residents would stay for an average of two years before needing to move on somewhere else. It did not clarify what its plans were … Read more
Government Response
The government accepted the implicit recommendation to clarify move-on plans, stating they will provide further details on routes out of the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme into other forms of housing and will write directly to the Committee by May 2021.
HM Treasury
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21 Conclusion Accepted
Forty-Ninth Report - COVID-19: hou…
As of September 2020 the Department was reasonably confident that all 3,300 homes would be...
As of September 2020 the Department was reasonably confident that all 3,300 homes would be completed by its target date of 31 March 2021.80 In our evidence session the 69 C&AG’s Report, para 2.12. 70 Q 41. 71 Qq 31–2. … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees and commits to reporting progress on the delivery of 3,300 homes under the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, and will provide further details to the Committee by May 2021.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 21 of 7 classified
Accepted 7
Accepted in Part 3
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 9
Total 7 recs + 14 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
15 Jun 2021 Correspondence from Jeremy Pocklington CB, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, re Public Accounts Committee 49th Report. COVID-19: housing people sleeping rough – Update on Recommendation 6, dated 2 June 2021
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1 Mar 2021 Correspondence from Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care, re Vaccination against COVID-19 for outreach workers helping rough sleepers, dated 23 February 2021
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23 Feb 2021 Correspondence from Public Accounts Committee Chair Meg Hillier to Sir Chris Wormald KCB Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care, re Vaccination against COVID-19 for outreach workers helping rough sleeper, dated 12 February 2021
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