PART FIVE– WHAT DO WANT THE NEW GOVERNMENT TO DO ABOUUT HOMELESSNESS? What We Asked For Before What’s Been Asked For This Time So Far What Should We Be Asking For – Over to You

Our 2015 Manifesto www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together

5 Areas in the Manifesto Commit to end rough sleeping Ensure better support for people to find and keep a job, and an effective welfare safety net Ensure more homes and stronger rights for tenants Secure a better deal for people with the most complex problems Put in place a long-term homelessness strategy and the investment to deliver it 3.1.1 Overall service elements The overall service offer could comprise of the following elements: 1. Basic advice and assistance to exercise Treaty Rights. Information on employment agencies or voluntary sector groups that can link migrant workers back into work opportunities should be made available. Local authorities should ensure any local services are properly registered to avoid the risk of “gang master” exploitation. 2. Referral to Job Centre Plus in order to ascertain benefit entitlements 3. Assistance to secure ID and documentation where this is required to enable people to travel home or work. 4. Reconnections assistance and support to return home should include referrals to “home country” supported housing and treatment services, so people do not have to return to the uncertainty of homelessness or where they cannot cope with returning to their family – the Routes Home website described later can be of help with this. 5. Short term reconnection beds may be considered if this would assist people in returning home. These should be time limited and contingent upon people accessing employment and/ or returning home within an agreed period (1 – 2 weeks maximum). 6. Treatment – where this is required to facilitate a return home consideration may be given to funding short term treatment services, such as for substance dependency.re June 2011, Cuts Monitoring survey

“We call on the next government to take the commitment to end rough sleeping even further ,so that it prevents more people arriving on the streets and breaks the cycle of repeat homelessness Basically building on the consensus around No Second Night Out Pushing for a “No First Night Out” approach which emphasises prevention. Incorporating other parts of Government – NHS, Prisons etc Decreasing repeat homelessness

Increases in Rough Sleeping Numbers

Set out a new national plan to end rough sleeping within the next Parliament Make 4,000 additional homes available, reserved for people with a history of rough sleeping Safeguard homelessness hostels and other supported housing from cuts to housing benefits Set out a new national plan to end rough sleeping within the next Parliament Make 4,000 additional homes available, reserved for people with a history of rough sleeping Safeguard homelessness hostels and other supported housing from cuts to housing benefits Set out a new national plan to end rough sleeping within the next Parliament Make 4,000 additional homes available, reserved for people with a history of rough sleeping Safeguard homelessness hostels and other supported housing from cuts to housing benefits   Set out a new national plan to end rough sleeping within the next Parliament Make 4,000 additional homes available, reserved for people with a history of rough sleeping Safeguard homelessness hostels and other supported housing from cuts to housing benefit

Conservative Perspective Sajid Javid (DCLG) “We all want to see an end to rough sleeping, but he knows as well as I do that the causes of rough sleeping are complex. They are not just economic, they are mental health problems, they are addiction problems, and we do have lessons to learn from abroad. I’m sure that if we work together that we can all unite in ending rough sleeping for good.”

“We call on the next government to help people who become homeless to achieve their job aspirations, and to ensure an adequate income is in place for those unable to work Work and Health Programme Fair conditionality and sanctions Protection of supported housing costs Specialist support for young people

“We call on the next government to ensure there are housing options for everyone, where having a decent place to live is not beyond the reach of the poorest and most vulnerable people” Backing Homes for Britain Stronger commitment to sub-market rents Improving quality and tenure in PRS Lead in the development of innovative approaches such as Housing First Transitional arrangements ended April 2011 (for A8s), meaning that they have the same status as other EEA nationals, such as people migrating from France or Germany. Since May this year, Germany and Austria have now opened their labour markets to A8 nationals http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/blog/2011/05/restrictions-a8-nationals-lift-last. Some A8 clients may now be eligible for JSA, but only if work ready – more on this later in Susan’s presention Other interventions, such as reconnection should still be offered The end of the Transitional arrangements has not led to a marked decrease in rough sleeping amongst this group despite hopes that access to benefits could reduce homelessness as it may act as a financial bridge between periods of work. Employment –A2 nationals •A2 nationals need to get permission to work before starting any work in the UK •Work permits will be issued to workers under the existing work permit (points based) system, largely to highly skilled migrants •Work permits will be issued to lower skilled workers for approved seasonal agricultural work and food processing. There is a set quota of permits which will be granted. No need to apply for anAWC •After working continuously for 12 months obtain full rights as an EU worker –therefore can work without restrictions Self-employment is also an option for A2 and they must register with Inland Revenue and pay taxes/NI contributions

“We call on the next government to develop a new national focus on multiple needs that can support local areas to act” Make local areas accountable for delivering multiple needs strategies in each area (MEAM approach) Learn from existing programmes (MEAM) Listening to people with multiple needs and the staff who support them (VFTF) Transitional arrangements ended April 2011 (for A8s), meaning that they have the same status as other EEA nationals, such as people migrating from France or Germany. Since May this year, Germany and Austria have now opened their labour markets to A8 nationals http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/blog/2011/05/restrictions-a8-nationals-lift-last. Some A8 clients may now be eligible for JSA, but only if work ready – more on this later in Susan’s presention Other interventions, such as reconnection should still be offered The end of the Transitional arrangements has not led to a marked decrease in rough sleeping amongst this group despite hopes that access to benefits could reduce homelessness as it may act as a financial bridge between periods of work. Employment –A2 nationals •A2 nationals need to get permission to work before starting any work in the UK •Work permits will be issued to workers under the existing work permit (points based) system, largely to highly skilled migrants •Work permits will be issued to lower skilled workers for approved seasonal agricultural work and food processing. There is a set quota of permits which will be granted. No need to apply for anAWC •After working continuously for 12 months obtain full rights as an EU worker –therefore can work without restrictions Self-employment is also an option for A2 and they must register with Inland Revenue and pay taxes/NI contributions

“We call on the next government to develop a long-term strategy for investing in support for single people who become homeless and ensuring national and local accountability” Cross-Government investment involving other aspects of public services (e.g. NHS & criminal justice) “Ten year test” on policies and spending decisions. Will they add to homelessness numbers? (migration?) Protect the Homelessness Grant Have a plan for future funding of supported accommodation and a Minister responsible Transitional arrangements ended April 2011 (for A8s), meaning that they have the same status as other EEA nationals, such as people migrating from France or Germany. Since May this year, Germany and Austria have now opened their labour markets to A8 nationals http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/blog/2011/05/restrictions-a8-nationals-lift-last. Some A8 clients may now be eligible for JSA, but only if work ready – more on this later in Susan’s presention Other interventions, such as reconnection should still be offered The end of the Transitional arrangements has not led to a marked decrease in rough sleeping amongst this group despite hopes that access to benefits could reduce homelessness as it may act as a financial bridge between periods of work. Employment –A2 nationals •A2 nationals need to get permission to work before starting any work in the UK •Work permits will be issued to workers under the existing work permit (points based) system, largely to highly skilled migrants •Work permits will be issued to lower skilled workers for approved seasonal agricultural work and food processing. There is a set quota of permits which will be granted. No need to apply for anAWC •After working continuously for 12 months obtain full rights as an EU worker –therefore can work without restrictions Self-employment is also an option for A2 and they must register with Inland Revenue and pay taxes/NI contributions

We will input this into the work of Homeless Link’s Policy Team Your Challenge Write up what you think we should be asking the new Government in each of the 5 areas Plus anything else. We will input this into the work of Homeless Link’s Policy Team Transitional arrangements ended April 2011 (for A8s), meaning that they have the same status as other EEA nationals, such as people migrating from France or Germany. Since May this year, Germany and Austria have now opened their labour markets to A8 nationals http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/blog/2011/05/restrictions-a8-nationals-lift-last. Some A8 clients may now be eligible for JSA, but only if work ready – more on this later in Susan’s presention Other interventions, such as reconnection should still be offered The end of the Transitional arrangements has not led to a marked decrease in rough sleeping amongst this group despite hopes that access to benefits could reduce homelessness as it may act as a financial bridge between periods of work. Employment –A2 nationals •A2 nationals need to get permission to work before starting any work in the UK •Work permits will be issued to workers under the existing work permit (points based) system, largely to highly skilled migrants •Work permits will be issued to lower skilled workers for approved seasonal agricultural work and food processing. There is a set quota of permits which will be granted. No need to apply for anAWC •After working continuously for 12 months obtain full rights as an EU worker –therefore can work without restrictions Self-employment is also an option for A2 and they must register with Inland Revenue and pay taxes/NI contributions