Our response to the Kerslake Commission on Rough Sleeping final report

The Kerslake Commission on Rough Sleeping has published its final report. Chaired by Lord Bob Kerslake, it is an independent commission, convened by St Mungo’s and designed to learn from the emergency response to rough sleeping during the pandemic. The NHF is represented on the Commission and is proud to be part of this vital work.

The final report makes recommendations for the system changes needed to embed the lessons from the emergency response, and gives recommendations for how sector representatives can work together. It also concludes that without urgent action, the number of people sleeping rough will rise again.

We have responded to the final report:

“We strongly welcome the final report of the Kerslake Commission and its focus on the long-term action that is needed to end rough sleeping. It recognises, first and foremost, the vital need to build more homes that are affordable to people on the lowest incomes including homeless people – homes at social rents. Alongside this there must be adequate welfare levels and increased, flexible and joined up funding for support services for people coming off the streets, to help them stay in their homes, and a focus on prevention support for those at risk of becoming homeless.

Housing associations are ready to play their part as they have throughout Everyone In. We support the recommendation of a cross-sector approach to alleviating all forms of homelessness, with agencies and bodies working together across central and local government, health and housing to provide the right homes and the right support for those in need.”