Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has worked with Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) to block-book bedrooms in two London hotels specifically for the Capital’s rough sleepers, for the next 12 weeks.
300 hotel bedrooms have been earmarked for the project.
City Hall will continue working with a range of partners, including London’s boroughs and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to identify others sleeping rough and ensure everyone gets the support they need. The Mayor’s emergency response is being provided with the backing of the Government, which – with the Mayor – has provided funding to kickstart this work.
Rough sleepers are significantly more likely to have underlying health conditions, including respiratory problems, than the wider population. They are also far less likely to be able to follow Public Health England advice, such as self-isolation, social distancing and handwashing.