Council to launch new strategy as calls about homelessness rocket by 395% during COVID-19

Liverpool City Council is calling on the public to comment on its new homelessness and rough sleeping strategy.

The council revealed that there had been a 395% increase in calls about homelessness due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were 14,414 calls during 2020/21 to Careline, a council-run 24/7 contact centre that helps with issues relating to homelessness. In 2019/2020 there were 2,909.

The council’s new homelessness strategy has been developed with partners which are part of the city’s Homelessness Transformation Steering group, which includes housing providers and Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group.

A total of 1,800 people sleeping rough during the pandemic were supported to come off the streets into safe accommodation.

How could the council’s strategy help the homeless?

The strategy has a ‘homelessness transformation framework’ called the Liverpool Ladder which has eight ambitions.

These include investing in jobs and skills and supporting homeless people and families on all aspects of a first tenancy, including furniture, a rent deposit and food.

The council also wants to develop a dedicated street outreach team and city centre hub for people to connect with services and create a transition team to help people as they move into independent living.

Reaction to the homelessness and rough sleeping strategy

Councillor Frazer Lake, cabinet member for social care, said: “The pandemic challenged local authorities to think differently about keeping people safe.

“We are proud of what we achieved in Liverpool and we have taken what we learnt and built it into this new strategy so that we can carry on that good work as we support people who are facing post-COVID challenges.

“We know that homelessness is an issue that many people in Liverpool care about and I encourage everyone to read the strategy and share their feedback, it’s a real chance to influence how the council and its partners achieves the aim of making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring in Liverpool.”

Steve Harding, director of operations for homelessness charity Crisis, said: “As we’ve seen throughout the pandemic, when the collaboration and the political will is there, we can dramatically reduce the numbers of people forced into, and trapped in, homelessness.

“As we look ahead, we’re pleased to see this consultation taking place to ensure that Liverpool can continue to take the steps needed to tackle homelessness.

“We’re excited to continue working closely with organisations and representatives from across the sector and Liverpool City Council to develop and achieve the changes we urgently need to both help people out of homelessness and into a home of their own with the support they need, and to prevent people from being forced into homelessness in the first place.”

The consultation is open until 24 November. The full strategy and an online feedback form can be found on the council’s website.