Response from Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP

Dear Hinchliffe and Kennedy,

Thank you for your email of 8 May to Rt Hon Grant Shapps regarding Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council on the number of emergency beds for the homeless, I have been asked to respond on his behalf. I apologise for the delayed reply.

This Government is committed in tackling and preventing homelessness as the Government has invested £400 million over the next four years to support to local authorities and the voluntary sector with their services to prevent homelessness and tackle rough sleeping. This includes £10m being made available between 2010/11 to 2012/13 to fund voluntary sector schemes to improve access to the private rented sector for single homeless people and, £42.5 million for the Homelessness Change Programme which will provide in excess of 1,500 new and improved bed spaces to improve hostels for rough sleepers and ensure that those coming off the streets get the support they need.

On top of that the Government announced an additional £70m investment this year:

• £20million - Homelessness Transition Fund to support the roll out of No Second Night Out and protect vital front line services

• £20million - Preventing Repossessions Fund to enable local authorities intervene earlier and help people stay in their homes.

• £20million - Single Homelessness Prevention Fund to help ensure single homeless people get access to good housing advice. This is on top of the existing £12.5m to help single people access private rented sector accommodation.

• £5million boost to the Homelessness Change Programme (bringing the total investment to £42.5m) to deliver improved hostel provision and provide over 1,500 new and improved bed spaces.

• £5million - Social Impact Bond – using a payment by results model to help persistent rough sleepers in London. This is the first Social Impact Bond set up to tackle homelessness in the world.

The Government has also invested £6.5 billion over the next four years for Supporting People which will protect the preventative services that help the most vulnerable live independently and retain their tenancies.

As you may be aware, this money goes to local authorities, and they have complete freedom to spend the money how they wish, based on local needs and priorities. For this reason, I am afraid that I am not able to comment or intervene on specific local decisions to change or end particular services.

Yours sincerely,

Natasha Nwoko