Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to amend the criteria for Priority Need for (a) homeless people and (b) rough sleepers to reflect the (i) age and (ii) underlying health condition implications of covid-19.

The Government recognises the challenges faced by those who are homeless or sleeping rough during the Covid-19 outbreak. We are working closely with local authorities and the sector to minimise the risk for vulnerable people and those currently unable to self-isolate.

As an initial first step we have announced £3.2 million in emergency funding for local authorities to help rough sleepers and those at risk of sleeping rough to self-isolate. This funding will assist local authorities with providing accommodation and support to vulnerable people who are at risk of, or who have been diagnosed with, Covid-19.

Priority need is decided by local authorities on a case by case basis. We have advised local authorities to use this funding flexibly to accommodate any rough sleeper or person at imminent risk of sleeping rough, who is unable to self-isolate.

£1.6 billion will go to local authorities to help them respond to other pressures related to Covid-19 across all the services they deliver. This includes increasing support for the adult social care workforce and for services helping the most vulnerable, including homeless people.