Ministers must act “urgently” to come up with a plan to help combat the spread coronavirus among the homeless “before it becomes a crisis”, charities and politicians have warned.
The government has not published information on what homeless people should do if they become infected.
Standard NHS advice encourages people to wash their hands regularly to reduce their risk of contracting the virus and self-isolate if they fear they have become infected.
But for rough sleepers, regular access to hot running water and soap could prove a serious barrier.
Finding a secluded place to stay to avoid spreading the disease without assistance would be almost impossible.
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Robert Jenrick MP, and the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock, to urge the government to act.
In the letter she demands urgent clarity on how health checks are going to be carried out for those sleeping on our streets – and if there are plans to provide people without a home who become infected with emergency accommodation so they can self-isolate.
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Ms Moran accused the government of leaving vulnerable proper in the dark with “stakeholders and charities still waiting for information on what the Government is going to do”
She adds that the government urgently needs to set out “a proactive action plan” to address the issue.
“These are some of the most vulnerable people in our society,” she wrote.
“Emergency funding for local authorities is not enough – we need to see a coordinated approach led by central government.
“The Government must act now, before what is an emergency for homeless people in our country becomes a crisis”
Matthew Downie, Director of Policy and External Affairs for Crisis, told the Mirror that they are “urgently requesting guidance” on how to protect people who are homeless, specifically rough sleepers, against coronavirus.
He added: “People sleeping rough are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to have a range of existing health conditions and face specific challenges in that they may be unable to regularly wash their hands, nor can they self-isolate if they feel unwell.
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“This guidance must set out what measures Government is taking to ensure rough sleepers get appropriate health checks, what accommodation will be provided so that people can self-isolate and advice for the public on how best they can support people who are homeless during the coronavirus outbreak.”
Some councils have already made preparations.
Brighton and Hove City Council has prepared a site in the city for rough sleepers to stay for 14 days if they are told by Public Health England to isolate themselves.
It comes after the government was accused of dramatically under-reporting the scale of rough sleeping following council data showing numbers almost five times higher than Whitehall estimates.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that last year 4,677 people slept outside across the country but a BBC investigation showed almost 25,000 people slept rough in 2019.
A Government spokesperson said: “We’re well prepared to deal with the impacts of Covid-19. We are already working closely with local authorities to support vulnerable groups including homeless people.
“We’re working closely with the sector and will publish further guidance shortly.”
