Rough Sleeping Initiative Programme 2020-2025 (RSI) Learning Review Report

Foreword

Homelessness in all its forms remains a critical and complex challenge facing communities across the West Midlands. While the primary responsibility for tackling the homelessness experienced by citizens of our region remains with Local Authorities, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has taken a proactive role in tackling the broader, systemic factors that contribute to this issue. Through its Homelessness Taskforce, the WMCA has brought together local councils, public services, charitable organisations, the voluntary sector, and businesses to collaborate on solutions focused on preventing homelessness and supporting those at risk.

The role of the WMCA Homelessness Taskforce has not been to take on direct delivery of core homelessness services but to support strategic coordination, add value to existing efforts, and enable regional collaboration. In particular, the Taskforce has sought to complement and support the activities of Local Authorities, ensuring that regional initiatives align with and enhance local homelessness strategies.

A prominent example of this collaborative approach is the WMCA Rough Sleeping Initiative (RSI) Programme. Over the past five years, we have secured more than £2.7 million in additional investment, which has helped to bolster local capacity, test innovative solutions, and create economies of scale that would not have been possible through isolated local efforts. This investment has supported the development of ‘proof of concept’ projects, generated valuable insights, and promoted best practice throughout the region.

Our RSI Learning Review Report highlights the Combined Authority’s role as a facilitator and enabler. Rather than duplicating provision commissioned by our Local Authorities, the WMCA has focused on driving systemic change by fostering the development of preventive measures and protective factors that help individuals avoid rough sleeping in the first place or quickly regain stability once they do.

The findings and lessons presented in this report offer an important opportunity to refine and further develop regional responses for tackling homelessness and rough sleeping. By ensuring that those at risk are identified early and provided with timely, trusted support, we can improve outcomes for the people of our region. This approach emphasises the importance of not only helping people into stable accommodation but also providing the necessary resources and support systems to help them sustain that housing, employment, and overall wellbeing.

Looking ahead, the WMCA remains committed to driving systemic change across the region. We aim to build on our experience of tackling the ultimate exclusion that is homelessness by developing inclusive preventative approaches that ensure everyone has access to a safe, secure, and genuinely affordable home. This foundation is essential for people to reach their full potential.

Together, we share the responsibility of ensuring that everyone in the West Midlands has the opportunity to thrive.