Jeremy Corbyn has announced a “moral mission” to save the lives of those sleeping rough on Britain’s streets this winter.
Labour ’s package of measures to end rough sleeping within five years include £100m for emergency shelters in the coldest months.
Their plans will be backed up by an extra £1bn a year to pay for staffing and support for the homeless.
Mr Corbyn blamed the Tories for being “directly responsible” for the numbers living and dying on Britain’s streets.
Rough sleeping has more than doubled since 2010, while the number of people dying homeless has risen by 50 per cent in the last five years, totalling 726 people last year.
“One person sleeping rough is one too many. No one wants to live in a society where thousands of homeless people are left out in the cold on the streets,” Mr Corbyn said.
“Labour will save lives this winter and end rough sleeping within five years.”
The party’s plans include a £600m fund for 5,000 more hostel beds and £200m to help residents turn their lives around.
There would also be 4,000 new ‘Housing First’ places to get rough sleepers straight off the streets and into permanent housing with another 4,000 permanent ‘move-on’ homes.
