The "Everyone In" scheme by the government aimed to house as many homeless people as possible during the COVID-19 crisis, with councils being given £3.2 million from March to house rough sleepers within places such as hostels. This scheme undoubtedly did great work; the Ministry of Housing said that 90% of rough sleepers were invited to come inside, and the scheme ultimately housed 5,400 people, with Sir Keir Starmer MP saying "we all but ended rough sleeping overnight." 

However, in May it was leaked that the government were due to end this scheme, despite the COVID-19 pandemic clearly continuing within the UK, posing a great threat to the homeless community. Moreover, this scheme has alerted the public to the possibilities of long-term and sustainable ways to end rough sleeping, with Starmer arguing that the public would not "forget" the changes that this plan had wrought. Dave, who had been homeless for 15 years, was housed in a flat in Devon, and said in an interview with BBC News that "it raises a few questions about why they couldn't do it before."

This petition firstly aims to apply pressure to the UK government to not end the "Everyone In" scheme yet. This petition secondly aims to apply pressure on the government to commit to continue to look at policies and schemes such as the one discussed. This petition endorses the 'Everyone In' scheme as it has been successful because it has been focused on councils, ensuring targeted and efficient activity and allowing for contacts to be created between rough sleepers and other members of the community.

The public have been shown that it is possible to make real and fundamental changes to the situation of rough sleeping within the UK. Sign this petition to ask that the government make long-term preparations to house rough sleepers both during, and beyond, the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Boris Johnson pledged to end rough sleeping within five years of becoming Prime Minister. We would like to see this enthusiasm enacted beyond emergency measures.