Rick Henderson, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, responded to today's announcement from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government

"We are extremely pleased that government has heard and acted upon the concerns of our members in the homelessness sector by providing this additional funding and asking local authorities to bring all rough sleepers into safe accommodation. With the country in a third lockdown to try to bring the new variant of Covid under control, it was vital that the grave risk to people sleeping rough was recognised and addressed.

"Including people who have been sleeping rough who were previously offered and refused accommodation in this initiative is particularly welcome, as is the drive to ensure that everyone is assessed for clinical vulnerability and supported with GP registration so they can access the Covid vaccine, alongside the rest of the population.

"However, this initiative must also be backed up with a long term strategy and funding to support people off the streets to end their rough sleeping beyond the winter. This should happen alongside a review of welfare benefits to address the root causes of homelessness in all its forms. Only when we look at these wider issues can we begin to move towards ending homelessness for good.