UK: Plea for shared accommodation to share in emergency funding

Shelter says the government should extend Coronavirus relief funding for rough sleepers to additional support for families in shared accommodation with the same self-isolation concerns.

This afternoon (17th March), the government abandoned its ‘business as usual’ stance toward homeless hostels and day centres to find £3.2m offered as emergency support to rough sleepers over the COVID-19 outbreak.

That, says Shelter chief executive Polly Neate, was the “right thing to do” given the very serious health risks to which rough sleepers are already exposed.

“Which is why any efforts to ensure people’s lives are not put at extra risk should be prioritised,” said Neate.