The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched official guidance for its Next Steps Accommodation Programme.
The programme aims to ensure that individuals housed in emergency accommodation in response to Covid-19 do not return to sleeping rough, to contribute to a reduction in rough sleeping, and to keep people safe.
The programme has two elements and is formed of two recently announced funding streams:
- A fund of £105m (revenue) for immediate need to cover interim accommodation and support
- A fund of £130m (capital) and £31m (revenue) for long-term accommodation and support.
The ambition of the second element is to deliver long-term national assets, maintained in perpetuity, in the form of supported move-on homes for people recovering from rough sleeping.
The guidance includes regular references to multiple disadvantage throughout and we welcome the fact that local areas are asked to set out specific plans for people with “high/complex/multiple needs” when developing their proposals.
Proposals must be submitted by local authorities before the deadline of Thursday 20 August at 23:59. Please refer to the guidance for further information.