Repeat ‘Everyone In’ to protect rough sleepers, says Labour

Shadow Housing Secretary Thangam Debbonaire has written to her counterpart Robert Jenrick calling on him to re-start the ‘Everyone In’ initiative that began in March.

Efforts by local authorities and charities earlier this year helped 15,000 rough sleepers off the streets. However the flow of people newly becoming homeless or rough sleeping has not stopped. Recent data from London revealed that 3,444 people had been sleeping rough between July and September this year, with 1,901 people sleeping rough for the first time.

Homelessness charities, who have also called for a second Everyone In scheme in England, report a similar picture across the country.

Debbonaire says that the government must ‘urgently re-start’ Everyone In to protect rough sleepers from a cold, dangerous winter, whilst also highlighting the need for clear rules on the use of self-contained accommodation rather than communal night shelters. She calls on the government to suspend no recourse to public funds, to ensure that all rough sleepers can access support.

She said: “The ‘Everyone In’ initiative in March was an incredible achievement by councils and charities, which saved hundreds of lives. A repeat of this success will require strong leadership and effective co-ordination from central government. As we head into a second lockdown, the government must urgently re-start ‘Everyone In’ to protect rough sleepers from a cold, dangerous winter.”