Rough sleeping inquiry launched by Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

• Inquiry: Rough sleeping
• Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

The cross-party Committee will be looking at previous approaches taken by Government and local authorities to tackle rough sleeping and at the effectiveness of initiatives such as the ‘Housing First’ strategy.

The inquiry will be focussing on homelessness issues in England.

The Committee will begin its inquiry on Tuesday morning (from 10am) with questions to Lord John Bird, co-founder of The Big Issue, and witnesses including council and homeless charity representatives (full witness details included below).

Chair quote

Florence Eshalomi, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee said: “There are currently shocking levels of rough sleeping on our streets and very real concerns that worse is to come this winter. The success of the 'Everyone In' policy during the pandemic showed that it is possible to end this problem. Yet, it appears that every year, especially in the lead up to Christmas, we are caught by surprise by the seriousness of the rough sleeping crisis and fail to put in place the right investment and support to fix it.

“In our rough-sleeping evidence session next week, and in our follow up questions to the Minister next year, we want to explore the barriers experienced by those sleeping rough when trying to access the support they need to help them off the streets. We also want to examine potential solutions and the most effective ways to tackle rough sleeping.”

Evidence session

Rough sleeping inquiry evidence sessions – begin on Tuesday 12 November, 10am

The Committee is expected to conclude this inquiry with questions to a Government Minister in the New Year.

Witnesses

From 10am

• Lord John Bird, co-founder, The Big Issue
• Balbir Chatrik, Director of Policy and Prevention, Centrepoint
• Dr Carin Tunåker, Lecturer in Law (homelessness & inequalities), University of Kent
• Alicia Walker, Assistant Director of Activism and Advocacy, Shelter

From 10.45am

• Sophie Boobis, Head of Policy and Research, Homeless Link
• Paul Dennett, Deputy Mayor for Healthy Lives and Homelessness, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
• Councillor Adam Hug (Lab), Leader of Westminster City Council
• Ben Tomlin, Head of Strategic Housing and Partnerships, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image credit: House of Commons