The Government risks missing its target of ending rough sleeping in England by next year, homelessness charities have warned.
More than 30 organisations including St Mungo’s and the National Housing Federation have written to prime minister Rishi Sunak saying inflation means very few councils will be able to meet higher bills to provide accommodation.
The warning follows publication of the Government's strategy on homelessness which restated its 2019 manifesto commitment to end rough sleeping by the end of this parliament.
Figures released by the Government found 3,069 people were sleeping rough in a snapshot survey late last year, up 26% on the total for 2021 and nearly three-quarters above the level in 2010.
The organisations welcomed funding announced in the spring statement and the introduction of the renters’ reform bill to parliament last month with the pledge to end no-fault evictions.
However the letter said: “But, despite these positives, we remain deeply concerned about the financial position of homelessness services across the country.
'Very few local authorities have the resources to uplift commissioned homelessness contracts in line with inflation, meaning some homelessness providers are currently trying to manage annual shortfalls in the hundreds of thousands of pounds for commissioned services.'
It called on Mr Sunak to 'take the necessary action' to meet the target.
A spokesperson for the Government said it remained 'absolutely committed to ending rough sleeping', highlighting the £2bn Rough Sleeping Strategy which includes up to £500m in funding to local authorities in England from April 2022 to March 2025.
