ONLY one homeless person is sleeping rough in Basingstoke, after the borough council offered accommodation to all those on the streets during the current pandemic.

The Government gave local councils 48 hours on March 27 to find emergency accommodation for all rough sleepers in England.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s cabinet member for homes and families, Cllr Tristan Robinson, said the council had managed to get all but one rough sleeper off the streets.

He added: “All known rough sleepers and those at risk from rough sleeping have been offered safe and secure accommodation and, all but one have so far chosen to come off the streets.

“The council and its partners will continue to work with and support anyone choosing to sleep rough and the offer of accommodation will remain open while we continue this engagement.”

Cllr Robinson said securing accommodation and support had “required exceptional work given the unprecedented circumstances”.

He added: “Our social inclusion partners have demonstrated their overwhelming commitment and dedication in helping us ensure we collectively deliver a joined-up community response in these exceptional times, and this should be commended.”

The Social Inclusion Partnership brings together public services, commissioned housing providers, voluntary and faith-based groups and others with a shared aim to combat homelessness and rough sleeping in the borough.

Working together with partner organisations including May Place, the Camrose Centre, Julian House outreach, medical services and citizens advice, the council is ensuring support continues for those most in need.

The chief executive of the charity Crisis, Jon Sparkes, has said that the government’s insistence to ensure every rough sleeper is housed was the right thing to do, but urged for a “package of support” to continue after the pandemic so that people don’t return to the streets.

He added: “The government has committed to ending rough sleeping by 2025. This proves it can be done in 2020 if we make it the priority it deserves to be.”

Anyone concerned that a person may be rough sleeping should contact Streetlink on 0300 500 0914 or visit streetlink.org.uk.