Homelessness charities react with one voice against plans to criminalise rough sleeping in tents
Posted 07.11.23
Emmaus UK: Further reading
This article is one of many that called for the Home Secretary to urgently reconsider her suggested plans to criminalise the use of tents by people sleeping rough.
The Home Secretary Suella Braverman is proposing new laws to restrict the use of tents by homeless people, and there are reports the plans being drawn up include forbidding charities from giving tents to homeless people.
Charlotte Talbott, Chief Executive of Emmaus UK, supported the open letter which hah been published by the charity Crisis with a range of homelessness charity leaders as signatories.
She also joined others in condemning comments recently posted by the home secretary on X, formerly known as Twitter, in which she said that many people are living on the streets as a "lifestyle choice".
Charlotte Talbott said: "Emmaus UK whole-heartedly endorses the open letter and calls for the Government to reconsider measures to criminalise the use of tents by people living on the streets.
"Though rough sleeping is dangerous and should have no place in society, and a home is a basic human right, demonising people living on the streets and hampering humane support is damaging. Instead, the Government should focus on addressing the causes of homelessness."
Editorial Note
The Home Secretary's comments raised fears that her views might be reflected in legislation proposals in the King's Speech a few days later. This proved not to be the case.
However, there are still widespread concerns about a senior government minister's attitude that appears to criminalise rough sleeping, rather than making more efforts to tackle the main cause of it - the current housing crisis.
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Lambeth rolls out bespoke programme to support young people's housing needs
Posted 24.11.23
Lambeth Council: Further reading
Lambeth Council is transforming the way it provides housing-related support services to homeless young people, including care leavers and unaccompanied young people seeking asylum.
The new programme - 'Routes to Independence' - was created following an internal review of existing services in 2020, which found significant elements of the council's supported housing services for 16 to 25-year-olds did not meet their needs.
It focuses on four areas:
The wide range of services on offer will provide stability and support for young people to develop the skills they need to transition to independence.
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