Restaurants can open!

Today, we have announced £105 million to continue our support for rough sleepers and those housed in emergency accommodation during the pandemic – taking total spending on rough sleeping and homelessness this year to over half a billion pounds – an unprecedented commitment as we move towards ending rough sleeping for good.

• Since the start of the pandemic, 15,000 vulnerable people have been taken off the streets and prevented from becoming homeless during the pandemic, which has been a vital step to ensure their safety and has changed the lives of thousands for the better. 
   
• This extra £105 million will be used to support rough sleepers and those at risk of homelessness with the next steps - including through help with deposits for accommodation, and securing thousands of alternative rooms already available and ready for use. This builds on our recent announcement to provide 6,000 long-term, safe homes – ensuring the work being done to take society’s most vulnerable off the streets during the pandemic has a lasting impact. 
   
• Together, this takes the funding provided by Government for vulnerable rough sleepers and those at risk of becoming homeless to over half a billion this year, meaning we can move towards ending rough sleeping for good and unlock new opportunities to improve their lives for the better.

Stay alert

We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must:

• Keep washing your hands
• Stay 2 metres apart wherever feasible, and mitigate the risks at 1 metre where not
• Avoid public transport when possible, and wear a mask when not
• Get tested immediately if you have symptoms
• Self-isolate if instructed by NHS Test and Trace .