Thursday 10 Apr 2008 @ 16:32
Homeless Link
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Homeless Link calls for the health, criminal justice and skills agencies to play their part in ending rough sleeping

Recently, Housing Minister Iain Wright announced a new commitment to reduce rough sleeping to as close to zero as possible within the next three years, supported by a new aspiration for all hostels to provide access to training and employment to support people to move permanently off the streets and on to independent lives. The renewed ambition comes close as we approach the tenth anniversary of the Government's initial target of reducing the levels of rough sleeping by two thirds. Significant progress has been achieved and the initial target has been exceeded in all parts of the country except London. However, in recent years rough sleeping numbers have effectively flatlined at around 500 on any night, showing there is a need for a fresh initiative.

Jenny Edwards, chief executive of Homeless Link, the national umbrella organisation for frontline homelessness agencies, said: "We applaud the commitment the Government is making to tackle this deep social exclusion with vigour and renewed ambition. The Places of Change approach shows that, with the right support, people can leave rough sleeping behind forever. Over 10 years an estimated 19,000 people have left the streets in London alone. Now we need a fresh approach to prevent new people falling into rough sleeping and to join up support so people can rebuild their lives. We call on the health, criminal justice and skills agencies to play their part fully. Homeless Link will be challenging everyone to aim higher, in their strategies and services. If we get this right, within the next 4 years Britain can become the first country in the world to end rough sleeping.'

NOTES TO EDITORS

  1. About Homeless Link

Homeless Link is the national membership organisation for frontline homelessness agencies in England. Our mission is to be a catalyst that will help to bring an end to homelessness. Our two goals are to:

  • raise standards in the services that support homeless people and tackle homelessness
  • influence the development of policy, strategy and investment at all levels of government.

Homeless Link’s member organisations provide services through: hostels, day centres, outreach and resettlement agencies, housing advice centres, youth projects, health projects, welfare rights groups, regional and sub-regional homelessness networks, refuges, drug and alcohol services and church groups.

  1. The discussion paper can be found at http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/roughsleepingdiscussion. The minister called for local authorities, the voluntary sector and others involved in dealing with rough sleepers to come forward and contribute to the discussion paper that will form the basis of the updated strategy.
  2. The 'Places of Change' funding allocations were announced in March 2008 after a round of bidding.
  3. The Places of Change Programme (PCP) is a 3 year programme which will run from 2008 to 2011. It builds on the success of the 2005-08 Hostels Capital Improvement Programme (HCIP). PCP aims to continue to improve the services available to rough sleepers so they can make the transition from the street to a settled home; to increase the number of people moving on from their hostel or homelessness service in a positive way; and to increase the number moving into education and employment. For more information please see http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/placeschange

Further information

If you would like more information on the research or on Homeless Link or if you would like a more detailed conversation about the relevance of this announcement to homelessness strategy, please contact: Gill Perkins, Head of Communications at Homeless Link on 020 7960 3025 or 07881 921476 gill.perkins@homelesslink.org.uk Homeless Link First Floor 10-13 Rushworth Street London SE1 0RB

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