Sadiq Khan vows to end rough sleeping in re-election bid as homeless charities slam London 'DISASTER'
Sadiq Khan has vowed to bring an end to rough sleeping in London by 2030 if he is re-elected as London Mayor
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Sadiq Khan has vowed to bring an end to rough sleeping in London by 2030 if he is re-elected as London Mayor, amid concerns from homeless charities that the situation has become a "disaster".
In a speech today, the London Mayor - who is battling for a third term in office - will promise to end “once and for all” the “indignity, fear and isolation” felt by those enduring a life on the street.
The number of people recorded sleeping rough in London has hit a record high, data shows, with homeless charities branding the statistics a “disaster”.
Khan pledged £10 million to fund an expanded network of “ending homelessness hubs” under the plans, something his campaign said will be the biggest single intervention to tackle rough sleeping from City Hall on record.
The London Mayor - who is battling for a third term in office - will promise to end “once and for all” the “indignity
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The hubs are designed to help an extra 1,700 rough sleepers every year with rapid reassessment and rehousing.
In his speech, Khan will say it is time “to reject the notion that homelessness is some natural, stubborn feature of modern life that we have no option but to abide”.
The mayor’s campaign has framed the May 2 vote as a “neck-and-neck” two-horse race between Labour and the Tory candidate Susan Hall, despite recent polling putting him on firm course for a historic third term.
Labour claimed Hall has “has strongly backed a programme of cuts by the Government which has led to a 14-year Tory failure over rough sleeping”.
But reacting to Khan's plans, the Tory candidate claimed it was Khan's "failure" to build affordable homes that has "kept people stuck in temporary accommodation".
Hall said: "This is yet another promise that Sadiq Khan will fail to deliver, given his appalling record on housing.
"Sadiq Khan has only started building 4 per cent of the affordable homes he promised in the latest programme, and it is his failure that has kept people stuck in temporary accommodation and made it harder to get rough sleepers off the streets.
"We cannot solve homelessness without solving the housing crisis, which is why I have pledged to build more family homes Londoners can afford."
Data from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain) recorded a total of 4,389 peoplesleeping rough in the capital between October and December - the highest quarterly figure since records began 10 years ago.
Hall claimed it was Khan's "failure" to build affordable homes that has "kept people stuck in temporary accommodation".
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The data also showed a record high for the number of people classed as “living on the streets”, which reached its highest-ever quarterly level of 560.
Khan’s latest announcement comes after the Conservative Government faced a backlash over plans to clamp down on “nuisance” rough sleepers in its Criminal Justice Bill.
Charities have voiced concerns that proposals to allow police to fine homeless people could see vulnerable women penalised for seeking shelter, while dozens of Tory backbenchers were expected to rebel against parts of the legislation.