The Government has announced that London will receive £371 million as part of the homelessness prevention and rough sleeping prevention funding. This is £80 million more than last year under the Conservatives, a notable increase that will have a genuine impact on people facing homelessness.
Newham has been allocated £24.4million of this money which is an £6.7 million increase in funding just for the borough. The number of people experiencing or facing homelessness is the highest it has ever been, and the rate is especially high in Newham. This is reflected in the higher amount of funding that Newham will receive, the largest of any council in the country. Currently, more than 123,000 households are living in temporary accommodation including nearly 160,000 children, the situation is untenable.
James Asser MP for West Ham and Beckton said
“I’m happy that the Labour government has allocated £24.4million to Newham which is £6.7million more than last year.
This money is needed and will help those already experiencing homelessness or sleeping rough. It will also importantly help to prevent more people losing their homes and must form part of the wider commitment to tackle the housing crisis.
In October, I raised the issue of the temporary accommodation crisis in Newham with the Minister, calling for urgent financial support to address the immediate situation and find long-term solutions. This notable increase in funding is positive progress”.
This money is going where it is needed to help people in emergency and temporary accommodation, people facing eviction or the loss of their home and people forced to sleep rough.
