Tories told to bring back Covid eviction ban to stop homelessness ‘catastrophe’
Tory ministers have been urged to bring back the Covid evictions ban to ensure no one is made homeless in the cost-of-living crisis.
The Kerslake Commission – led by a former head of the civil service – warned inaction could lead to a “catastrophic” homelessness crisis.
It warned that would mean the Government failing to meet its manifesto pledge to end rough sleeping, and wiping out progress made since the pandemic.
The review also called for a pause in benefits deductions and for benefits to be increased immediately – not next April as planned.
The ban on residential evictions was extended several times during the Covid pandemic, including at a few days’ notice in February 2021.
But restrictions on bailiffs eventually did end in England on May 31 last year.
There were 4,900 landlord repossessions of rented homes in the three months to June – up 210% on the same period a year earlier.
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Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The number – which applies to England and Wales – was still below levels before Covid hit.
But it is set to rise further. Landlords applied to the courts for 18,201 possession claims in the three months, a rise of 160% on the year earlier.
The commission was set up to examine the lessons from Covid and the “terrific success” of the Everyone In initiative, which saw thousands of rough sleepers brought to safety.
It is chaired by former head of the Civil Service Lord Bob Kerslake and comprises 36 experts from the health, housing and homelessness sectors.
Its latest report tracks progress made in implementing previous recommendations and makes new recommendations in light of the cost-of-living crisis.
It warns: “We now need further emergency action to match the scale of the cost-of-living crisis, with a concerted focus on those who are most at risk of destitution, if we are going to achieve the goal of ending rough sleeping by 2024.
“The cost of not acting now is too great, as we stand on the precipice of a new emergency.”
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Dan Kitwood)
Lord Kerslake said the Government’s responses to the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis “must be equally urgent”.
The energy price cap announced by Prime Minister Liz Truss is welcome but “not enough”, he added, with thousands facing the “very real prospect” of losing their homes.
He continued: “We once again need to see the strong, decisive leadership from the Government we did during ‘Everyone In’, backed by resources and funding.
“But this time the focus must be two-pronged. It is no longer just about getting people off the streets, it is about ensuring people who are currently at risk of homelessness don’t end up on them.
“Failure to act could see this become a homelessness as well as an economic crisis and the results could be catastrophic; with all the good achieved in reducing street homelessness since the pandemic lost, and any hope of the Government meeting its manifesto pledge to end rough sleeping by 2024 gone.”
St Mungo’s, which provides the secretariat for the commission, said every day it sees the “very real and very harsh reality of this financial crisis”.
Interim chief executive Rebecca Sycamore continued: “And with more price increases, and the colder weather coming, it is very likely many of those currently just scraping by will no longer be able to manage, and could be at real risk of losing their homes.
“In order to prevent this from becoming a homelessness crisis action is needed now – and we fully support the new recommendations made by the Commission and urge Liz Truss and her ministers to introduce these measures as a matter of urgency to prevent more people ending up homeless this winter.”
One person being supported by St Mungo’s, who lives semi-independently, said life feels hopeless.
They said that, three days after being paid, they will have spent all their money on rent arrears, food and other essentials.
They said: “Living like this is making me more depressed and anxious all the time. Today I feel angry, really angry telling you what it’s like to live miserably on such a low income.
“It’s not fair that I am trying everything I can to turn my life around but things that are beyond my control have an impact on my hopes, my dreams, my aspirations.”