§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the assistance given to the homeless who are trying to get a permanent home; and what new measures have been introduced since 1997. [26632]
§ Ms KeebleLocal authorities have a duty to provide appropriate advice and assistance to anyone who is homeless. In addition, there are provisions in the Homelessness Bill to ensure that each local authority formulates and publishes a homelessness strategy. This will help ensure that accommodation will be available for people who are, or may become homeless, as well as helping to prevent homelessness in the first place.
12WAssistance is also provided for former rough sleepers in England through the work of the Rough Sleepers Unit. The RSU is ensuring that a further 1,000 permanent homes are available for former rough sleepers, bringing the total to more than 4,500. Most of these homes have already been provided with the remainder becoming available by late 2002.
The RSU's strategy has also ensured that services have been developed to support individuals through the transition to permanent housing. The unit funds services which:
- 1. prepare people for living inside by tackling addiction and mental health issues;
- 2. help in securing accommodation through, for example, the use of rent deposit schemes and help finding furniture etc.;
- 3. support former rough sleepers within their new homes through Tenancy Sustainment Teams, including youth, substance misuse, mental health and employment workers;
- 4. equip individuals with the skills needed to live independently, help to access benefits and link them back into education, training and employment.
I am also very concerned about the rising number of homeless households being placed in bed and breakfast accommodation. We have now established a Bed and Breakfast Unit which will shortly be announcing targets to reduce numbers placed in B&B over the next two years.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what help is available to homeless people who have mental health problems and other health difficulties. [26630]
§ Ms KeebleLocal authorities have duties towards homeless people with mental health problems and other health difficulties under the Housing Act 1996. Under Part 6, reasonable preference must be given in the allocation of social housing to households who need settled accommodation on medical or welfare grounds. Under Part 7 of the Act, a local housing authority must secure accommodation for a person who is unintentionally homeless and vulnerable through mental illness or handicap or physical disability.
The Supporting People programme, which comes onstream on 1 April 2003, will provide housing-related support to vulnerable groups, including homeless people with mental health problems and other health difficulties.
The programme will provide support, with resettlement and rehabilitation, and will also help them to maintain tenancies, and prevent a recurrence of homelessness.
Supporting People will be based on partnership working, and the programme will be planned and delivered in collaboration with local health and social care agencies. Through Supporting People, service users with additional needs will be helped to access other specialist services.
The Rough Sleepers Unit (RSU), working closely with the Department of Health, funds services in England to help rough sleepers with mental health and substance misuse problems. These include specialist workers operating across all RSU funded services, and a range of hostels, specialist beds and permanent homes targeting those with mental health and substance misuse problems.
13WAll homeless people, including rough sleepers, are eligible to access health care and advice and register with a GP. The Department of Health has also funded Personal Medical Services (PMS) pilots, some of which are targeted specifically towards homeless people.
The National Service Framework for Mental Health (NSF) is a 10-year programme spelling out national standards for mental health, what they aim to achieve, how they should be developed and delivered and how to measure performance. The standards in the NSF apply equally to the homeless. Specifically, Standard 1 relating to Health Promotion identifies rough sleepers as a "vulnerable" population.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will investigate the problem of homelessness in rural areas with specific reference to the single homeless. [27131]
§ Ms KeebleThe Countryside Agency is planning to publish research on preventing homelessness in rural areas in the next few months. This research investigated homelessness in rural areas including single homelessness and will provide good practice on what works in preventing homelessness and the delivery of services to homeless people in rural areas.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the levels of homelessness were in rural areas in each of the last five years, broken down by district. [27132]