We sent a letter to Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in collaboration with other charities across the homelessness sector, to highlight our concerns about the impact of the changes to National Insurance will have on the homelessness sector.
The letter highlighted that the NI changes could take between £50 and £60m out of the homelessness sector and away from the delivery of frontline services.
The letter asked the Government to provide a rebate or relief to the homelessness sector – who provide vital services for the public sector – and require the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government and local authorities to cover the increased costs by increasing the value of grants and contracts for 2025-26 onwards.
Homelessness across the UK is at an all-time high. Official statistics released in August 2024 show that 86,520 households in England qualified for homelessness support from their councils between January and March. In Autumn 2023, 3,898 people were estimated to be sleeping rough.
Our Annual Survey of Frontline Workers also highlighted that Support services in general are harder for people to access – because of digital exclusion (including services only available by phone as well as online). Other barriers are reduced opening hours; tighter eligibility criteria; waiting lists; short-term funding meaning services that existed a few months ago have gone
Mental health support, (including for those with co-occurring substance use), primary healthcare and dentistry are particularly hard to access.
“Services for mental health and addiction is extremely difficult to access. Due to lack of services when people are being housed, they do not have the wrap around service they need to support them to sustain their tenancies and in many cases due to the lack of support they cause issues which leads to eviction and then they end up back in the system going around and around in circles.”
Frontline Worker, Northern Ireland