WEST Midlands Mayor Andy Street has backed a government initiative to end homelessness by 2027.

It was announced yesterday (Monday, August 13) that the government would be committing £100 million to tackling homelessness through the Rough Sleeping Strategy.

Under the strategy, plans have been announced to halve the number of rough sleepers by 2022 and to end homelessness in the UK by 2027.

Homelessness has been on the rise during the past few years, with six times as many rough sleepers in Birmingham today as in 2010.

There have also been rises in Wolverhampton and Dudley, with more than twice as many rough sleepers in the West Midlands today as there were in 2010.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire has admitted that none of the £100 million in funding is ‘new money’.

Back when he was elected in May of last year, Mr Street made tackling homelessness one of his top priorities in the job and established the homelessness task force.

Mr Street said he hoped the new commitment from the government will help add to the work the taskforce has already started in the West Midlands.

“Here in the West Midlands over the last 18 months, the various members of the Homelessness Task Force have been focused on ‘designing out’ homelessness in all of its forms, not just rough sleeping,” Mr Street said.

“The Rough Sleeping Strategy announced by Government today recognises that even one person sleeping rough is too many  and commits cross government support and resources to halving this by the 2022 and ending rough sleeping nationally by 2027.

“There is much in the strategy to be welcomed and we hope will complement the £9.6million recently awarded to the West Midlands Combined Authority for Housing First.

“In particular, we welcome the new funding for ‘navigators’ whose job it is to help rough sleepers get the help they need from the system, and the increased bed numbers and improved access to mental health support for rough sleepers.”

Last week it was revealed that, on average, there is a drug-related death once every three days in the West Midlands.

And Mr Street said the government’s recognition of the issues surrounding the use of synthetic drugs is key to helping solve the problem.

“I also think the recognition of the challenge presented by synthetic drugs – particularly spice, which is so visible in our city centres – is a really important step,” Mr Street added.

“One piece of work in particular we have led on in the West Midlands has involved the link with modern slavery and understanding whether homelessness is a driver or consequence of modern slavery.

“Our focus must remain on the root causes of homelessness in all of its forms and addressing the systemic issues, such as affordable housing and employment opportunities.”