MP urges Government to bring forward plans to house the homeless beyond COVID-19

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has written to the Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, asking him to continue funding for local councils to house rough sleepers.

During the COVID-19 crisis, more than 14,500 people who were on the streets or at risk of sleeping rough have been given emergency accommodation.

This morning Tim spoke with the homeless charity Shelter who are really concerned that Government funding for the scheme is set to stop at the end of this month.

Tim said: "Over the last few months it's been amazing to see councils, communities and the Government working together to provide accommodation for people who had been sleeping on the street.

"Here in South Lakeland, we've seen the local council being able to safely house every homeless person across the district

"We've got to ask ourselves if we can do that now during this time of crisis, why can't we do it all of the time? And the answer is of course we can.

"That's why I've written to the Housing Secretary today to ask for him not only to carry on giving councils the funding to provide safe accommodation for rough sleepers, but to bring forward a concrete plan of how the Government will end rough sleeping once and for all."