St Mungo's Staff Strike Over Conditions And Treatment Of Migrants

Hundreds of workers at Britain’s biggest homelessness charity have started a three-day strike in a protest about working conditions and the treatment of vulnerable migrant rough sleepers whose details the charity shared with the Home Office. Staff at St Mungo’s have gone on strike after a year-long dispute about the charity’s sickness policy and concern about the ratio of junior to more senior workers. Union officials estimate that about 200 staff have joined the strike – the first at the charity since 2014. Workers fear the staffing policy opens the door to a cheaper workforce on worse pay and terms and conditions. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/16/st-mungos-staff-on-strike-about-conditions-and-treatment-of-migrants

Jenrick Told ‘Significant New Effort’ Needed On Homelessness

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has been told of a need for “significant new effort” on homelessness prevention after a visit to St Mungo’s. Dominic Williamson, St Mungo’s executive director of strategy and policy, made a direct pitch to work with the government on helping to ensure “the right plans are in place along with the requisite funding”. Jenrick was shown around the charity’s hostel in Southwark, which is home to men and women who have been homeless or rough sleeping. There, staff work to assess people’s options and find a safe route away from sleeping on the streets including accessing health, employment, benefits and advice services, and appropriate housing. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/jenrick-told-significant-new-effort-needed-on-homelessness/

Charities Call On Government To Fix £1bn Hole In Homelessness Services

Nine years of government cuts have left local services for single homeless people with a £1bn a year funding gap, according to research commissioned by St Mungo’s and Homeless Link. The charities are warning that cuts to council budgets are leaving increasing numbers of people at risk on the streets, and calling on the Government to act now to make up the funding shortfall - or face missing its target of ending rough sleeping by 2027. The report, Local Authority Spending on Homelessness,  shows that council spending on support for single homeless people in England fell by 53% between 2008-9 and 2017-18, almost £1bn less a year compared to ten years ago. Download the report from the St Mungos website.

https://www.mungos.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/WPIE-Research-summary-briefing.pdf?x74044

Homeless Charity Helped Target Rough Sleepers To Deport

A leading homelessness charity has worked with Home Office patrols as they go out on the streets in search of rough sleepers deemed to be in the UK illegally to arrest and deport. St Mungo’s is one of the largest providers of homelessness outreach services in the UK. Its website says it is “here for every step of the journey away from homelessness” and its outreach teams work to “gradually build up trusting relationships” with people who are sleeping rough. But St Mungo’s has admitted to the Guardian that it has cooperated with Home Office immigration, compliance and enforcement (Ice) teams when they go looking for rough sleepers who are in the UK illegally. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/05/st-mungos-homeless-charity-helped-target-rough-sleepers-to-deport

Housing First Is Only Part Of The Solution To Ending Homelessness

“Housing First is highly effective in ending homelessness among people with high and complex needs, but it does not constitute a solution to single homelessness, or rough sleeping, in itself” according to a new report by the University of York, commissioned by St Mungo’s. The report, ‘Using Housing First in Integrated Homelessness Strategies: a review of the evidence’ is by Professor Nicholas Pleace, of the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York. He finds that “international evidence shows that Housing First services need to be a part of an integrated homelessness strategy to be truly effective.” Read more on the St Mungos website.

https://www.mungos.org/press_release/housing-first-is-only-part-of-the-solution-to-ending-homelessness-according-to-new-research/

Labour Vows To Double Number Of Homes For Homeless

Labour has pledged to try to greatly reduce the number of people sleeping rough by doubling the number of homes reserved for those who have been homeless, calling on the government to introduce this measure immediately. The scheme, announced by the shadow housing minister, John Healey, would see the charity-run Clearing House scheme to provide secure accommodation for former rough sleepers expanded and set up in new locations. Currently the charity St Mungo’s has 3,750 flats across London intended for people with a history of rough sleeping, operating the scheme on behalf of the Greater London Authority. Read more on Welfare Weekly.

Critical Lack Of Mental Health Services For Rough Sleeper

There is a critical lack of mental health services for Britain’s rough-sleeping homeless population, according to a new report from the charity St Mungo’s. To compile its report, the homelessness charity submitted Freedom of Information (FoI) requests to health and local authority commissioners in 111 areas. They were selected on the basis of having 10 or more rough sleepers on any one night. The aim was to identify the services providing mental health assessment, support and treatment for adults sleeping rough.  The report, ‘Stop the Scandal: the case for action on mental health and rough sleeping’, claims that over two thirds (68% of these areas fail to commission specialist mental health services. Read more on the St Mungo’s website.

Homeless Told To Sleep Rough To Get Help

Some homeless people have been told by councils to sleep rough so they can get help, a charity has said. Research by St Mungo's found some local authorities turned away those in need or told them to sleep on the streets in order to access services. It wants the government to ensure local authorities stop sending away those with nowhere to go. Ministers say no-one should ever have to sleep rough and money was being invested to help those in need. The findings, based on 40 St Mungo's clients, suggest that three-quarters slept rough after asking a council for help. Read more on the St Mungo’s website.

Homeless Charity Hands Out Eviction Notices To Its Own Tenants

A leading homeless charity has come under fire after handing out eviction notices to tenants living in properties it owns in the capital. St Mungo's, who carry out a number of homeless services in the capital, own 24 flats in South London. They are now reviewing the tenancies of 14 of those.Tenants of the flats say they were asked by the charity to attend their offices, where they were then handed section 21 eviction notices - the first step in eviction procedures. Read more on the politics.co.uk website.

Supported Housing: Sector Warns Of Uncertain Future

Housing bodies and charities have warned of an uncertain future for supported housing, following the government’s announcement of a funding plan. David Orr, chief executive of the NHF, led the warnings – saying he is “not confident” in the new system which will see funds passed to councils. Mencap and St Mungo’s also reacted cautiously to the plans. The sector had been campaigning to change the government’s policy to restrict housing benefit in supported housing to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates available to private tenants. Damian Green, the work and pensions secretary, announced the government will press ahead with applying the rates, however it will distribute a ‘top-up’ fund to local authorities.  Read more on Inside Housing.

Celebrities And Campaigners Call For A New Rough Sleeping Strategy

Over fifty leaders of health and homelessness organisations, celebrities, politicians and campaigners are calling on the Prime Minister to put an end to rough sleeping, particularly for those people with mental health problems. Five years ago, statistics showed that 1,768 people were seen sleeping rough in England on any one night. That figure has now more than doubled to 3,569. There was a 30% increase in the last year alone. Signatories to an open letter from St Mungo’s Stop the Scandal campaign include Grayson Perry, Rory Bremner, Phil Spencer, Dr Mark Porter, Chair of the BMA and Paul Farmer, CEO of Mind. Read more on the St Mungo’s website.

Social Housing Benefit Cap Will Put Thousands On Streets

Thousands of homeless people will be evicted from hostels and supported housing as a result of government plans to cap housing benefit payments to vulnerable tenants, charities are warning. The St Mungo’s charity said the local housing allowance (LHA) cap would lead to widespread bed closures, triggering a massive increase in rough sleeping. It runs more than 2,000 supported housing units in London and the south-east, where housing, support and sometimes care services are provided as an integrated package. The warnings come amid increased concern over rising homelessness. The latest official figures show a doubling in the number of rough sleepers since 2010. Read more on the Observer website.

Charities Call For Action On ‘Appalling’ Homelessness Problem

Most Londoners are “appalled” at the level of rough sleeping in the capital and want the next mayor to better use powers to tackle the problem, a report has found.  A group of 21 charities, including Crisis, St Mungo’s and Centrepoint, called for a drive to end the growing homelessness on London’s streets. The Lead London Home campaign said the average homeless person dies aged just 47 — 30 years younger than the national average — and is  13 times more likely to be a victim  of violence. More than 7,500 people slept rough in London last year, including 880 under-25s, and research by Crisis shows the figure has almost doubled in six years. Read more on the Evening Standard website.

47 Days and 47 Years – Charity Urges More Action on Homeless Health

As the government marks 47 days in office, St Mungo's Broadway has launched its 'Homeless Health 47' petition to highlight that the average age of someone who dies while homeless is just 47. The charity is asking people to sign the petition which urges Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt to "prioritise homeless health and drive urgent change in this Parliament". Howard Sinclair, St Mungo's Broadway Chief Executive, said: "Almost twice as many people who use homelessness services have long term physical health problems and mental health diagnoses compared to the general public, and the average age of people who die while homeless is 47.  The 47 figure is also significant for us in that when we surveyed our clients last year, 47 per cent had a significant medical condition.” Read more on the St Mungo’s website.

PM Must Deliver On His Commitment to Tackle Homelessness

David Cameron should make sure his new government follows through on his personal commitment to tackle homelessness, St Mungo's Broadway has urged. The homelessness charity reminded him that rough sleeping has not gone down, as he claimed in one campaign interview with Radio 1's Live Lounge. Government statistics show the number of people sleeping rough has actually increased 55 per cent since 2010. Howard Sinclair, Chief Executive of St Mungo's Broadway, said: "We were surprised by his statement that rough sleeping had gone down, whereas official government stats show the opposite story.  We hope the Prime Minister will instruct his new ministers to look carefully at what is going on and to work with other departments, homelessness charities and local councils to reverse this worrying trend.” Read more on the St Mungo’s website.

Next Government Must Tackle Root Causes of Homelessness

The Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness has released its new report Addressing complex needs, setting out the issues around complex needs homelessness and exploring what more can be done to improve outcomes in the future. In an accompanying ministerial statement, Kris Hopkins MP, who chairs the Group, wrote of its work "prioritising concerted cross government action to tackle homelessness, bringing together departments across Whitehall." Responding, Howard Sinclair, St Mungo's Broadway Chief Executive, said: "Crucially, the Ministerial Working Group has recognised that homelessness isn't just about housing and we welcome support to tackle rough sleeping and improve the health and skills of homeless people.” Read more on the St Mungo’s website.

Property Fund for Homeless People Reaches £46m

A fund that buys properties to let to homeless people has reached £46m after two investors upped their initial stake. The Real Lettings Property Fund, which is managed by St Mungo’s Broadway and investment company Resonance, is designed to produce a return for investors that comes from an increase in property values and rental income. Investor Big Society Capital has increased its commitment by £10m to £15m, while another investor, the City of London Corporation, has doubled its investment to £1m. A total of 219 homes have been acquired or are in the process of being bought in the 18 months since the fund was launched in 2013. The fund has helped 144 individuals and children to date. Read more on the Resonance website.

Sick Homeless People Overlooked By Health Services

Highly vulnerable and chronically unwell homeless people are being overlooked by England's local authorities' health plans and face barriers to accessing even basic healthcare, says a new report. The report, ‘Needs to Know', by St Mungo's Broadway and Homeless Link, found that, despite 73% of homeless people having a physical health problem, some of the most vulnerable are being left out of the planning and commissioning of healthcare services.  The report found that about two thirds (64%) of JSNAs made no mention of single homeless people and seven (14%) made no mention of homeless people at all. Read more on the St Mungo’s website.

Reshuffle Prompts Fear Homelessness Will Be Sidelined In Election

The removal of homelessness from the housing minister’s portfolio has prompted concerns that the government is intending to ‘sideline’ the issue in the run-up to next year’s general election.  Last week, the government announced that new housing minister Brandon Lewis will not be responsible for tackling homelessness. The brief instead remains with former housing minister - and now more junior local government minister - Kris Hopkins, as a reflection of the ‘importance of the issue’, the CLG said. However, Howard Sinclair, chief executive of St Mungo’s Broadway, said: ‘The risk is that [homelessness] is sidelined at a time when housing is just beginning to get some influence and notice nationally, and that housing issues are sidelined.’ Read more on Inside Housing.

Pilot Scheme Aims to Help Vulnerable Homeless People into Work

A pilot scheme has been launched to help vulnerable homeless people to access skills and training to get into work. The London STRIVE (Skills, Training, Innovation and Employment) pre-employment programme will initially work with 100 single homeless people over two years. The scheme will aim to address key barriers to employment and over the course of a programme designed with their particular needs in mind, participants will build up their basic skills in IT, maths and English. Run by homelessness charities Crisis and St Mungo’s Broadway, STRIVE will work alongside Jobcentre Plus to identify those who would benefit most from the scheme. Read more on the Housing Excellence website.