Labour led Milton Keynes Council will next week (at Cabinet meeting on 6 March 2018) agree a fundamental change in its approach to rough sleepers.  The Council will move to a Housing First approach backed up by enhanced care and support for vulnerable people. It will be key to ending rough sleeping in Milton Keynes.

In October 2017, Cabinet approved the draft Rough Sleeping Reduction Strategy for public consultation. The 12 week consultation closed on 24 December 2017. There was a high level of support for the priorities identified in the draft strategy and the feedback has been central to developing the final strategy and securing extra funding in the 2018/19 budget.

The Council has already been working extensively with partners in the voluntary sector to reduce homelessness and to assess gaps in existing provision. This strategy will coordinate this work alongside the revised statutory responsibilities from April 2018 to progress partnership working and deliver a person centred approach to significantly reduce the number of rough sleepers in Milton Keynes by 2021. (There are currently around 130)

·         98% of respondents agreed that the Council needed a strategy.

·         85% agreed with priority 1 (Work in partnership to prevent people sleeping rough in the first place).

·         87% agreed with priority 2 (Provide a joined up response when people do end up on the streets).

·         87% agreed with priority 3 (Provide a sustainable outreach service for those with complex /multiple needs).

·         84% agreed with priority 4 (Enable the provision of sustainable housing solutions).

·         80% agreed with priority 5 (Tackle anti-social behaviour and crime to keep MK safe).

Cllr Nigel Long said, “We are fundamentally changing our approach. Our 5 priorities will be:

1. Provide a person centred approach to prevent rough sleeping in the first place
2. Support those who do end up on the streets to ensure everyone has the opportunity to improve their life chances
3. Provide an outreach service for those with complex or multiple needs
4. Provide a Housing First solution to enable people who are sleeping rough to access permanent accommodation that is affordable and sustainable
5. Tackle anti-social behaviour and crime to keep MK safe.”

“We are also putting over £4.5 million into tackling homelessness next year.” (see breakdown of investment below)

Cllr Long concluded, “The Council has been working extensively with partners in the voluntary sector to reduce homelessness and to assess gaps in existing provision. This strategy will coordinate partnership working and deliver a person centred service by adopting a Housing First approach to significantly reduce the number of rough sleepers in Milton Keynes by 2021.”

Labour have allocated substantial funding to tackling homelessness: