Event Summary

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has made ending rough sleeping one of the defining priorities of his government, committing to “finally end long-term rough sleeping across the UK at the earliest opportunity.” Backed by an additional £340 million in funding, the first phase of the government’s five-year programme will provide 1,200 homes and intensive support for at least 3,000 people experiencing long-term rough sleeping, with local leaders playing a central role in delivery. Further policy announcements are expected this autumn.

Join Westminster Insight’s Ending Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Digital Conference to hear from policymakers, local leaders, housing providers and multi-agency practitioners on how this ambition can be translated into action. Explore the future direction of homelessness policy under the new Government, including the impact of devolution, the priorities for prevention and early intervention, the future of funding and accountability, and how to strengthen local service coordination across housing, health and public services.

What are the next steps for policy and funding under the new Burnham Government? Gain an update on the National Plan to End Homelessness and the additional £340m announced in Burnham’s first days in office, the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant, and accountability through the Local Outcomes Framework – including specific outcome metrics for homelessness and rough sleeping.

We’ll examine what delivery looks like on the ground, as mayors, councils, the NHS, public services and government departments come together to provide support for vulnerable people – including co-ordination across housing, health, social care, employment, substance misuse, justice, jobcentres, community, voluntary and faith sector. Take away guidance for implementing universal and targeted prevention with limited resources and budgets.

Gain insight into the government’s shift towards Housing First and housing-led approaches that prioritise prevention and long-term recovery over crisis management. With Greater Manchester’s Bed Every Night programme recognised as a leading example, the conference will showcase innovative local initiatives and practical lessons from organisations delivering effective homelessness and rough sleeping services.

The conference will focus on providing person-centred support for vulnerable groups, including people fleeing domestic abuse, families and children in B&B or temporary accommodation, older people, people with complex needs, care leavers, and asylum seekers and refugees. We’ll cover legal duties to prevent homelessness for people leaving prison, probation or hospital – groups recognised as being at particularly high risk – and the stronger expectations now placed on services.

We will also explore how the Government’s immediate priorities connect with wider reforms to housing. Hear the latest on housing supply, improving standards in temporary accommodation, and supported housing reforms. How is the Renters’ Rights Act, including the abolition of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, expected to improve tenancy security and support homelessness prevention?  We will discuss the duties on local authorities to reduce reliance on unsuitable temporary accommodation, particularly B&Bs.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from the organisations shaping the future of homelessness policy, understand the latest funding and guidance, benchmark your local approach against leading practice, and leave with practical ideas to strengthen prevention, improve partnership working and deliver better outcomes for people experiencing rough sleeping and homelessness.

Key Points

  • Government funding and policy priorities for reducing homelessness and ending rough sleeping
  • Devolution and giving local leaders a central role in delivery
  • Supporting and working closely with the Voluntary, Community and Faith sector to improve local delivery
  • Shifting from crisis management to prevention
  • Housing First and housing-led models
  • Measuring outcomes and improving performance against the Local Outcomes Framework metrics
  • The impact of the Renters’ Rights Act and the end of no-fault eviction
  • Providing early support to prevent repeat homelessness, including for people leaving hospital, prison or care
  • Early intervention for refugees, veterans, care leavers and households facing multiple disadvantage
  • Improving standards in temporary accommodation and reducing Bed & Breakfast use
  • Joined-up, trauma-informed support across housing, health, social care, employment support, substance misuse, probation and justice

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Group discounts

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