Homeless Link launches campaign calling on politicians to end homelessness in the UK

Olympic challenge to end rough sleeping by 2012

Homeless Link, the umbrella group for charities working with and for homeless people, today began an ambitious campaign to end homelessness in Britain by 2022.

The campaign was launched at a Parliamentary reception (1) attended by Yvette Cooper, Minister for Housing and Planning, Caroline Spelman and Andrew Stunell (Conservative and Lib Dem Shadow Secretaries of State for Communities and Local Government), MPs from all three major parties, homeless people and senior staff from national and regional homeless charities.

Announcing the campaign goals, Jenny Edwards, chief executive of Homeless Link, said: “In the 40 years since the screening of Cathy Come Home shocked the nation, much has been done to ensure that families like Cathy’s never find themselves in this appalling and degrading situation. However, every year tens of thousands of vulnerable people fall through the cracks into homelessness. We can and must stop this.”

Ending Homelessness: From Vision to Action, a report released by the group today, details the many causes of homelessness and provides a road map for eradicating homelessness within three Parliaments. An early goal is to end rough sleeping in the UK in time for the Olympics in 2012.

Key to achieving this goal is a stronger commitment to catching problems early to prevent individuals finding themselves without a roof. Equally crucial are programmes to give all long-term homeless people the chance to regain their confidence and reintegrate into society.

The politicians attending the reception were told just how important this sort of support can be by two former rough sleepers, Maz Albrecht and Kevin Smith(3). Both had been on and off the street for years, both had become chronic alcoholics, both are now in work training programmes. Maz plans to become an outreach worker helping those still on the streets.

Maz Albrecht said: “Having a roof over your head is important, but that alone doesn’t give you back the confidence you lose on the streets. There’s a lot of self-loathing. Being given the time and support I needed to learn to like myself again is what turned things round for me.”

Jenny Edwards added: “Ending homelessness is an investment in our future. Like climate change or any other problem, the sooner we act, the greater the benefits in the long term. This country has a history of righting social wrongs. Child labour is gone. The workhouses are gone. It’s time to end homelessness, too. We can do it.”

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For more information, to attend the reception or to arrange an interview with Jenny Edwards, contact Anne Holmes on 020 7960 3075 or 07798 666 658.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Wednesday, 1 November from 3-5:30pm, The Atrium, 4 Millbank, London SW1.
2. More biographical details about Maz Albrecht and Kevin Smith available in the following backgrounder.