Ruth Cadbury Labels Government Rough Sleeping Strategy a Sham
Claims no new money is being spent as high rents cause problem to escalate
Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbiry has dismissed the recently announced proposals to tackle as offering no new money for the problem despite Government claims that they are spending an extra £100 million.
She said, “Half was already assigned to tackle rough sleeping, while the rest has been taken away from budgets elsewhere. The strategy plans to end homelessness by 2027, but does not invest any new money into achieving this goal.
“From Hounslow to Chiswick, residents are seeing more people sleeping rough. Some are working and cannot afford even the cheapest London rents, others have health problems that makes work impossible and others have experienced family breakdown. “
“Earlier this year I went out with St Mungo’s outreach workers locally early one morning. We came across a young couple sleeping in a park because they had no-where else to go having been thrown out by both their families.”
“We are back to the levels of the 1990s - before the initiatives of the last Labour Government which ensured that there were housing options and specialist support that people who are sleeping rough so badly need.”
Rough sleeping in the UK has almost trebled since 2010, with over 4,750 people estimated to have been sleeping on the streets in 2017. Hundreds of thousands more are sleeping in hostels, shelters, derelict buildings, or on sofas.
Shadow Housing Secretary, John Healey MP, claims that the next Labour government would end rough sleeping within its first term by making 8,000 homes available to those with a history of sleeping on the streets.
The Government say that up to 6,000 vulnerable people will receive rapid specialist assessments and support under new measures in their rough sleeping strategy which aims to end rough sleeping entirely by 2027.
They say the strategy was developed across government and in conjunction with the Rough Sleeping Advisory Panel which is made up of representatives from the homelessness sector and local government.
Communities Secretary, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, said, It is simply unacceptable that people have to sleep on our streets and I am determined to make it a thing of the past.
Whether people are at risk of rough sleeping, already on the streets or in need of settled accommodation, we now have a solid plan to help the most vulnerable in our society.
And this is not just about putting a roof over their heads but helping them find a place to call home.
August 17, 2018