Around half of rough sleepers temporarily housed during the pandemic have been moved into longer-term accommodation.

The council has temporarily housed 260 people who were either rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping in B&Bs and hotels during the pandemic.

In March, amid the rise in coronavirus cases, the government asked councils to accommodate all rough sleepers.

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As of Friday, October 2, just over half of these people have moved into longer-term accommodation.

Councillor John Ennis, lead member for Housing at RBC, speaking at the council’s policy committee last Monday (September 28), said: “The ministry like the work that has been going on in this town in the attempt to eradicate homelessness and also get some decent housing for people.”

Reading Borough Council (RBC) has helped 131 people move into longer-term accommodation, with 31 of these people going into supported accommodation

The other 90 have gone into other accommodation, including 12 being reconnected elsewhere, 41 going into the private rented sector and 14 into longer-term temporary accommodation.

But 74 remain in temporary emergency accommodation, 30 of which have no recourse to public funds.

Options for the ‘no recourse’ groups are still limited, but the council says it will utilise some of the £750,000 short-term funding it has received from the MHCLG to:

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  1. Keep them in temporary accommodation
  2. Support them in applying for settled status to allow them to become eligible for public funds, access employment and reconnect to their country of origin where desired.

For those with recourse to public funds, including those who have returned to rough sleeping, RBC has submitted a proposal to the MHCLG for longer-term sustainable support and accommodation options.

Proposals include the approved 40 temporary modular units at Cattle Market Car Park with 24-hour support on site.

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RBC anticipates that, if the funding application to MHCLG is successful, it will meet the majority of the council’s remaining needs to support longer-term accommodation proposals.

Cllr Ennis gave an update on the pods last Monday, saying: “Construction and development tenders for the pods are currently being evaluated.

“We want to move quickly to use them for people who are going to be street homeless.

“We are awaiting further bids for wrap around support for the pods, for mental health, drug and alcohol counselling.”