In response to today’s BBC news report John Glenton, Executive Director of Care and Support at Riverside, talks about next steps for those in emergency accommodation.

Amanda is staying at the Holiday Inn in Manchester and is now flourishing, finding her identity again. She had slept rough for eight years before staying at the hotel when the coronavirus pandemic began.

John Glenton said: “Crisis are right to raise the prospect of people currently in emergency accommodation ending up back on the streets. We have a unique opportunity to end rough sleeping, and a responsibility to people like Amanda to find more permanent housing for her and everyone else who has recently come inside.

Identifying longer-term options with the right support in place for every individual is what we think needs to happen next. Riverside are working with Local Councils, charities and other housing providers up and down the country to this end, and have welcomed recent Government announcements to support those efforts.

None of us should underestimate how much effort is going to be needed, however, and it will require more leadership and more financial support to deliver. People in emergency accommodation are anxious about what is going to happen, so further Government action to reassure everyone that they won’t end up back on the streets would be a very positive move.”