Published Article

Headline‘A travesty’: Homelessness charity CEO underlines desperate need for social housing amid funding emergencies

Short Headline'A travesty': Homeless charity CEO on social housing need

StandfirstUnderfunding and national insurance increases are hitting homelessness support services in the capital hard.

Rough sleeping in London is escalating into a full-blown crisis, reflecting systemic problems with housing policy, gaps in funding, and social safety nets, says the CEO of a London homelessness charity.

The CEO of the Single Homeless Project, Liz Rutherfoord, describes the crisis as both a “big structural problem” and a “big financial problem.”

The murder of Anthony Marks, who was assaulted  near King’s Cross St Pancras station in August is a reminder of the acute vulnerability of those sleeping rough.

Ms. Rutherfoord stresses that addressing rough sleeping requires not only compassion but political and financial resolve.

“It all depends on how much the government, as much as anybody, is going to have the ability or the stomach to start responding.”

CEO of Single Homeless Project, Liz Rutherfoord

Mayor Sadiq Khan says the crisis will “get worse before it gets better” and that public support this winter will be “more vital than ever.”

The urgency of the crisis is echoed by London Councils, many of which have declared a state of emergency. They highlight that “skyrocketing homelessness numbers and associated costs represent the fastest-growing risk to boroughs’ financial stability – with several boroughs edging closer towards effective bankruptcy.”

“London is the epicentre of a national crisis – we are grappling with the most severe housing and homelessness pressures in the country.”

Councillor Grace Williams, London Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Regeneration

Data Provided by London Datastore

A significant part of the problem lies in the lack of affordable housing. Ms. Rutherfoord pointed to the glaring inefficiency of current spending on housing benefits, which primarily flows to private landlords.

“The need to build social housing urgently is just so blindingly obvious,” she said, arguing that investing in social housing would not only provide secure and affordable homes but also offer a swift return on investment.

Research from Shelter and the National Housing Federation indicates that social housing rents are cheaper, properties are better maintained, and tenants benefit from stability – all of which reduce long-term public expenditure.

“It just seems to be a travesty that everybody knows,” Ms Rutherfoord says, “but nobody’s had the will to do very much about it.”

Ms Rutherfoord is also concerned about the damaging effects of increasing national insurance payments that will cost her organisation £600,000, impacting services and their capacity to give pay increases to staff.

The government, meanwhile, have pledged £230 million in the budget to homeless support and a further £10 million as an emergency fund for the winter.

In his latest fundraising campaign, the Mayor of London has also asked the public to reach into their pockets, partnering with contactless payment charity TAP to install a number of points across London where people can easily donate.  So far this has raised £500,359.

It remains unclear though, exactly how this money will be spent.

And some reports indicate the issue could be much worse than it appears. Official statistics reveal that 82% of rough sleepers in London are men.

However, two-thirds of the “hidden homeless” – those sheltering from danger by sofa surfing or sleeping in public transport – are women. Reports suggest that the actual number of women experiencing homelessness may be nine times higher than government figures indicate.