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Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham says new NHS money for the mental health of rough sleepers doesn’t stand the test of long-term division.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has announced that £1.9m will be available to councils through Public Health England to help improve the health of rough sleepers.

The funding will be awarded to projects intended to improve access to health services and continuity of care for people with mental ill-health and substance misuse problems who are sleeping rough or at risk of returning to rough sleeping.

Hancock said the sum, along with the NHS Long Term Plan, will provide a “crucial lifeline”.

Burnham’s summary was succinct: “Inviting hundreds of councils to bid for a share of £1.9m is not an adequate response to the scale of this crisis.”

As announced, the kind of projects with the potential to attract funding could include:

  • ‘In-reach’ care models where specialist substance misuse or mental health workers run sessions in hostels or day centres
  • ‘Outreach’ models where specialist workers support rough sleepers at street level
  • Targeted interventions such as peer health advocacy that supports individuals to access and attend health appointments

With the submission deadline set for 5th July, successful projects will be announced in the summer.

Of those seen sleeping rough in London alone between 2017 and 2018:

  • 50% had mental health needs
  • 43%  alcohol misuse problems
  • 40% drug misuse problems

The NHS Long Term Plan has committed to spending up to £30m extra over five years to meet the health needs of rough sleepers to ensure better access to specialist homelessness NHS mental health support.

Inequalities Minister Jackie Doyle-Price said: “Understanding the factors that can lead to homelessness and the triggers that can trap people in a pattern of addiction and sleeping rough, coupled with a lack of support for their mental health, is crucial.

“This funding will help better equip local authorities to protect society’s most vulnerable and ensure no one slips through the net.”