It feels like only yesterday when I had a call from Matthew Heasman, CEO of local charity New Hope, warning of a "mini humanitarian disaster in Watford". It came just over two years ago when the pandemic had just begun.

Matthew was referring to the need to ensure every rough sleeper had somewhere safe to stay. We were all being instructed to stay at home, but some people did not have a home. I vividly remember urgently arranging calls with the Minister for Homelessness to secure funding. In the next 48 hours there were many calls back and forth and visits to hotels to source rooms, if the money came.

I will never forget receiving a call whilst visiting a local hotel. It was the minister's team confirming "the funding has been approved and the council officers have been informed”.

Travelodge housed 25 people initially, and One YMCA another 25. It was a moment I will never forget and led to many of other MPs following Watford’s model.

Look back: Coronavirus: 60 rough sleepers in Watford given temporary accommodation

Since then, I have successfully helped to lobby, and support bids for, over £4.5m of government funding to end rough sleeping in Watford. The funding has been part of the Government's 'Everybody In' initiative, aiming to reduce rough sleeping nationally. I am pleased to report that in January 2021 we had no verified rough sleepers in Watford, and since then numbers have remained low.

I will continue to support our fantastic local charities and national and local government to ensure the most vulnerable are treated with dignity. No one deserves to be on the streets and by working together in Watford we are leading the way across the UK. Thank you to Matthew and all the charities who have worked to make this possible.

  • Dean Russell is Conservative MP for Watford