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Rough sleeping centres 'to help 6,000' Rough sleeping centres 'to help 6,000'
(35 minutes later)
New centres aimed at taking rough sleepers off the streets will be set up in 15 locations across England.New centres aimed at taking rough sleepers off the streets will be set up in 15 locations across England.
The £4.8m Government project will see 11 shelters open by spring 2019. The £4.8m government project will see 11 shelters open by spring 2019.
Homeless charities welcomed the "significant step" but called on the Government to do more. Homeless charities welcomed the "significant step" but called on the government to do more.
The hubs will open in Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Cheshire West and Chester, Derby, Gloucestershire, Lincoln, Liverpool, Medway, Nottingham City, Preston and West London.The hubs will open in Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Cheshire West and Chester, Derby, Gloucestershire, Lincoln, Liverpool, Medway, Nottingham City, Preston and West London.
They will provide immediate shelter and support as part of the Government's £100m rough sleeping strategy. They will provide immediate shelter and support as part of the government's £100m rough sleeping strategy.
A further four centres will be created later next year and an estimated 6,000 people are expected to receive support through all 15 hubs by 2020, the Government said. A further four centres will be created later next year and an estimated 6,000 people are expected to receive support through all 15 hubs by 2020.
Seven homelessness charities - Crisis, Homeless Link, National Housing Federation, Shelter, St Basils, St Mungo's and Thames Reach - advised ministers on the strategy.Seven homelessness charities - Crisis, Homeless Link, National Housing Federation, Shelter, St Basils, St Mungo's and Thames Reach - advised ministers on the strategy.
They said in a joint statement it was "a significant step towards the government's goal of ending rough sleeping by 2027".They said in a joint statement it was "a significant step towards the government's goal of ending rough sleeping by 2027".
But they added that ministers "must also set out bold, cross-departmental plans to tackle the root causes of all forms of homelessness and prevent it from happening in the first place".But they added that ministers "must also set out bold, cross-departmental plans to tackle the root causes of all forms of homelessness and prevent it from happening in the first place".
A spokesman at Medway Help for Homeless said the plans were "too little too late" as the rise in rough sleepers would likely outstrip the projected 6,000 people set to receive support. Gaby Smith, spokeswoman at Medway Help for Homeless, said the plans were "too little too late" as the rise in rough sleepers would likely outstrip the projected 6,000 people set to receive support.
"It's great for us in Medway that there'll be a hub here, but for those living in Ramsgate, for example, it will be extremely inconvenient," he said. "It's great for us in Medway that there'll be a hub here, but for those living in Ramsgate, for example, it will be extremely inconvenient," she said.
"It's also unacceptable that these hubs will not come into operation until the spring, as it is during the winter that they are most urgently required, so yet again thousands will be sleeping rough this Christmas without help.""It's also unacceptable that these hubs will not come into operation until the spring, as it is during the winter that they are most urgently required, so yet again thousands will be sleeping rough this Christmas without help."
Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said: "These vital new hubs will ensure those on the streets have access to professional help and guidance to start their recovery." Jasper Thompson, founder of Help Bristol's Homeless, said: "I wouldn't like to see the reaction of some of the more chaotic homeless people if that hub is put in central Bristol.
"You can't do one size fits all. Lumping everyone in together in one place will be an issue."
But Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said: "These vital new hubs will ensure those on the streets have access to professional help and guidance to start their recovery."
Meanwhile, Labour announced a plan for a levy on second homes to raise £100m for emergency winter shelters for when temperatures drop below freezing.Meanwhile, Labour announced a plan for a levy on second homes to raise £100m for emergency winter shelters for when temperatures drop below freezing.
Under Labour's plan, second properties in England used as holiday homes would be subject to an average tax bill of over £3,200.Under Labour's plan, second properties in England used as holiday homes would be subject to an average tax bill of over £3,200.
It said the money would also pay for staff to help rough sleepers get health and housing support to keep them off the streets for good.It said the money would also pay for staff to help rough sleepers get health and housing support to keep them off the streets for good.