Member News
By Kylie Clark - 3rd February 2010
Communities minister Ian Austin was among the speakers at a manifesto launch on tackling homelessness on Tuesday.
The proposals, produced by Homeless Link, an umbrella organisation for frontline homelessness charities, calls for an end to homelessness in the next ten years.
The manifesto contains 10 keys steps including the prevention of homelessness during life transitions such as leaving care or being discharged from hospital, prison or the armed forces.
Austin highlighted the progress that has been made, noting that there were more homeless people in a few parts of Camden and Westminster in the 1980s than there are in the whole of England today.
Yet despite this progress the minister accepted the "massive challenges" which still lie ahead if rough sleeping is to be eradicated in two years.
He outlined the government's commitment to spending £1.5bn on building new houses to ensure people are not made homeless during the recession.
Austin also accepted that more should be spent on providing services and support for people with specialist needs.
Shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman stressed that the strength of the manifesto lies in the emphasis on prevention and early intervention.
Julia Goldsworthy, Liberal Democrat communities, spokeswoman, backed what she called an "ambitious" but achievable pledge.
Jenny Edwards, chief executive of Homeless Link, said that the pledge is not about blank cheques and empty promises.
"Despite the recession and the further cut in public finances to come we will not allow the most vulnerable people in society to become invisible," she said.
Download Homeless Link's manifesto
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd