Richmond's rough sleepers will be housed in social housing or privately owned properties.

Homeless people across the country were housed in accommodation including hotels earlier this year to shield them from the virus in a government scheme called 'Everyone In'.

As lockdown is eased and this initiative draws to a close, Richmond Council has approved an action plan to stop them returning to the streets.

The council has issued a call to landlords of small flats to let their properties which will house the homeless.

Richmond Council said "the programme follows work that has seen 75 rough sleepers accommodated so far during the pandemic".

Cllr Liz Jaeger is the local authority's lead member for housing.

She said: "One of the few good things about Covid-19 is that it has given the impetus, and funding, to get all our rough sleepers in off the streets.

"Decently accommodated, there is then the space to really work with people to change things for the better.

"The council has taken a multi-agency approach and is offering ongoing support for health issues, employment, further education, immigration and benefit advice to help individuals turn their lives around - a tailored and personalised approach.

"It isn't a quick fix. Some people decline our help and support. But, where they want and need our help – we work with our key partners such as SPEAR to help."

The plan was discussed by the Adult, Social Services, Health and Housing Committee last night (Tuesday, September 8).

The council said it meets its and the government's ambition that no rough sleeper will become homeless again without an offer of accommodation and support.

Where will the homeless stay?

Council housing teams will continue to formally assess all rough sleepers accommodated to establish what support they will need in the future.

Under the plan those eligible will be offered social housing or accommodated in private sector properties identified by the council's access officers.

The council is also reaching out to landlords with self-contained studio or 1-bed flats to let who are very welcome to contact our officer Lisa or call: 020 8817 5124 / 07866 154 016.

Funding for rough sleepers

Ongoing costs for accommodating rough sleepers are around £22,000 a week.

This is funded from the government grant given to the council to support the pandemic response.

Further funding of up to £125,000 from the council's Discretionary Housing Payments budget is allocated to help rehouse rough sleepers into sustainable tenancies over the next six months.

The council has bid for significant additional funding from both government and the Greater London Authority and we expect to know the outcome of these bids in the next few weeks.

Help for homeless EU citizens

Richmond Council has also been allocated a further £100,000 up to December 31 to support rough sleepers from the European Union/ European Economic Area who do not have access to benefits.

It will work with both the Citizens Advice Richmond and with the South London Law Centre to carry out detailed individual assessments, including the possibility of securing settled status for EU nationals.

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