Committee Takes Evidence From Rough Sleeping Minister Eddie Hughes In Covid-19 And Homelessness Inquiry

Thursday 28 January, 3.30pm

Watch the session live at www.parliamentlive.tv

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee takes evidence from newly appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rough Sleeping & Housing, Eddie Hughes MP on Thursday 28 January in the final session of its inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on homelessness and the private rented sector.

As part of its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government initiated a number of policies to support rough sleepers and private renters during the first lockdown. This included a ban on evictions and the ‘Everyone In’ programme to ensure that no-one was forced to sleep on the streets. In the following months, the eviction ban has been renewed on several occasions, while a number of additional programmes have been announced with the aim of addressing rough sleeping in the long-term.

In this session the Committee will examine the impact that Government policies designed to support individuals in precarious housing or rough sleeping have had during the Covid-19 pandemic. It will also investigate if mechanisms are in place to address these issues in the long-term or if there is a looming cliff edge if better support is not in place, including the risks of eviction for the hundreds of thousands of households in rent arrears.

Witness schedule

From 3.30pm

• Eddie Hughes MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rough Sleeping & Housing
• Penny Hobman, Director for Homelessness and Rough Sleeping at Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

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