Nobody likes to see people sleeping rough on our streets.  It is an issue that is complex and challenging and while there are often similarities, no two cases are the same.

In March the government launched the ‘Everyone In’ programme as an emergency measure to get rough sleepers off the streets in order to protect them from the Coronavirus pandemic.  By September, 29,000 vulnerable people had been supported nationally, with 19,000 people moved into more settled accommodation and continuing support given to 10,000 people in emergency accommodation to keep them safe.

As we approach winter, it is right to focus on the best way to protect rough sleepers from the threats of cold weather and coronavirus.  The government has worked with every local authority to produce plans to protect rough sleepers over the coming months, backed by the £105 million Next Steps Accommodation Programme.  This additional funding will ensure local areas have the tools and resources necessary to keep rough sleepers safe and off the streets during the winter.

There is sometimes an incorrect public perception that nobody is helping people seen sleeping rough or begging.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  The reality is that anyone who regularly sleeps rough in Crawley is known by the council and offered support and advice to help remedy their situation.  Sadly, not everyone will want to engage but that doesn’t mean we should stop trying, as we know that by every measure, sleeping rough leads to very negative outcomes for both physical and mental health.  We can all help by following the advice from homelessness charities, by not giving money to people begging, as this contributes to them not engaging with those services that will help get them into accommodation.  Please support homelessness charities instead.

Government spending on homelessness this year will be over £700 million, which is an unprecedented level of commitment, underlining the determination to end rough sleeping.  Both nationally and locally, there is much effort to end rough sleeping and I am very hopeful we will see less people sleeping rough this coming winter than in previous years.

Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group

21st October 2020