John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary, commenting on the Government encouraging councils to house rough sleepers, said:

“It is the right move to get people rapidly off the streets, but councils need support to do this.

“The Government has pledged just £3.2 million for this work which is simply not enough when local homelessness services have been cut by £1 billion a year and lost 9,000 beds since 2010.”