Government denies reports it has pulled funding from emergency coronavirus homeless sheltering programme

'We cannot allow all the progress made or that safety net to be quietly stripped back now with councils left to pick up the pieces on their own,' warns charity

The government has denied it has pulled funding to a programme that gives hundreds of homeless people a place to shelter from the coronavirus in hotels in Manchester, despite reports to the contrary.

The Manchester Evening News reported that the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government (MCHLG) has “drawn a line” under the ‘Everyone In’ programme and has scrapped the original coronavirus guidance to local authorities given in March.

The newspaper said a leaked report to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority told councils the scheme will no longer be funded, putting 1,600 homeless people who have been sheltering in emergency accommodation at risk of going back to the streets.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick first announced the programme in March, pledging £3.2 million in emergency funding to help rough sleepers to self-isolate as the outbreak became uncontrollable.

The document reportedly said although the scheme has resulted in “many positive outcomes”, including “vast improvements in personal hygiene, reconnection with friends and family, access to health support and treatment”, the government rules have no effectively returned to what they were pre-lockdown.

Under the previous rules, only those who meet strict criteria were entitled to permanent shelter, including homeless people under the age of 18, care leavers, families, and vulnerable people.

“At this point in time, government is clear that whilst local authorities can continue to exercise their powers to accommodate people above and beyond statutory duty, this is no longer part of their direct guidance or funding,” said the report.

“MCHLG have drawn a line under ‘Everyone In’ activity and is now asking local authorities to focus on ‘step down’ and ‘move on’ for those who have been accommodated as a result.”

The ministry has strongly disputed the claims made in the report in a statement, insisting: “Any suggestion that the government is reneging on the commitment set out at the start of this national emergency is entirely wrong.

“We have been clear councils must continue to provide safe accommodation for those in need, and any suggestion that funding is being withdrawn or people asked to leave hotels is unfounded.

“While the councils continue to provide accommodation to those that need it, it is only responsible that we work with partners to ensure rough sleepers can move into long-term, safe accommodation once the immediate crisis is over.”

According to the ministry, 90 per cent of rough sleepers known to councils at the start of the outbreak have been given offers of safe accommodation.

Shelter, a housing and homelessness charity in England and Scotland, said the report “sparked a new round of confusion over the government’s plans” for rough sleepers, and “something has gone very wrong in Manchester” if the funding has indeed been stripped.

Chief executive Polly Neate said: “The extra funds given to councils for emergency accommodation at the start of this crisis were much needed. So we cannot allow all the progress made or that safety net to be quietly stripped back now with councils left to pick up the pieces on their own.

“Unless the government wants to abandon the people it set out to hep, it must make crystal clear that anyone who is homeless and needs help should be accommodated now and supported into the future.

“And above all, it needs to provide councils with enough funding to make sure that happens, and to deliver the secure social homes that will be critical if we’re to eradicate homelessness for good,” she added.

Homeless charity Crisis said any return to “business as usual” would let thousands of people down.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis, said: “It’s completely unacceptable that people are being left abandoned on our streets, and that people are at risk of being kicked out of hotels because councils lack the funds for them to stay.

“There is still a deadly virus out there and, while it’s to be commended that over 5,400 people have been given safe, temporary accommodation, the job simply isn’t finished. In London alone, hundreds remain n the streets - no provision has been made for them and its a desperate situation with many left hungry, isolated and at risk.

“The initial emergency response to the outbreak showed what can be done when the political will and leadership from central government is there - but if we retreat into a failed ‘business as usual’, handing the issue back to overstretched local councils with no ring-fenced funding, then we let down not just the thousands experiencing homelessness today, but many thousands more at risk from the economic downturn we are entering.”

The Independent has contacted the Greater Manchester Combined Authority for comment.