Labour’s candidate in the May election says new plan would see a number of homes ring-fenced for use by people who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets. Tony McDonough reports.

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor candidate Steve Rotheram has pledged to work with housing associations to tackle the growing homelessness problem in Merseyside.

The Walton Labour MP, who will be his party’s candidate in the mayoral election in May said a new plan would see a number of homes ring-fenced for use by people who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets.

It would create a ‘one stop shop’ for housing providers to meet the needs of rough sleepers.

Mr Rotheram said identifying 35 homes in the Liverpool city region would be part of a solution to end street sleeping.

He added that since 2010, Government policies such as the bedroom tax, have meant people are increasingly forced into being housed in the private sector in accommodation which is often less secure, meaning that tenants with issues are more likely to end up on the streets.

He recently participated in a major housing summit convened by the National Housing Federation, which brought together the city region’s key housing players.

“The major housing providers in the Liverpool city region have agreed to work with me, if I’m elected in May 2017, to help facilitate homes dedicated to accommodating street sleepers, together with the wrap-around support also needed to solve the problem,” said the candidate.

“But in the city region, the problem is increasing despite the excellent work by local authorities and charities.

“The problem isn’t going away and that is why I want to tackle homelessness head-on and ensure nobody in our region has to spend an evening outdoors.”

Barbara Spicer CBE, chief executive of Plus Dane Housing and chair of Liverpool City Region Housing Association Group, added: “Housing Associations are united by a shared ambition – to ensure everyone in the Liverpool city region has the opportunity to live in a quality home that they can afford.

“We are therefore committed to exploring all possibilities and establishing what part we can play on the issue of rough sleepers with the recognition that a roof over the head is clearly a big part of the solution.”