Former Coventry hostel worker says PM’s plan won’t solve rough sleeping

West Midlands Combined Authority, which covers Coventry, will receive £5,500 million to be spent in 2026/27, as part of an Integrated Settlement, external.

Jim Crawshaw, Head of Housing and Homelessness at Coventry City Council, said they will be looking at where they can assure that there is an appropriate number of beds for rough sleepers in the city.

Crawshaw told BBC Radio CWR that the council’s rough sleepers’ team found eight people rough sleeping on Monday morning, and at the moment it expects there are around 25 people sleeping rough on any one night.

In March it was estimated that there were 64 people sleeping rough in Coventry, according to latest government figures, external. 7,541 people were estimated to be sleeping rough over the month in England.

The council’s team has five assessment beds for rough sleepers available immediately, and B&Bs as well as hotels are used if necessary.

“It does happen that people who are accommodated for whatever reason fall back into substances or have another mental health episode. If they do then it is our aim is to get that support wrapped around them immediately”, Crawshaw said.

He added that the additional funding will allow the council’s rough sleepers team to enhance the support and accommodation offered.