London 12 Nov. 2019 – The actual cross-party electoral manifesto should be the one tackling homelessness. International charity Crisis’ CEO Jon Sparkes wrote today a letter on The Times calling all politicians to end the national scandal of at least 350.000 people sleeping rough or in temporary accommodations.
“Our charities share a vision that homelessness can be ended and demand urgent action”, Sparkes writes.
“Whoever forms the next government has the power to ensure that everyone in our society has the stability of a safe home, we need a plan that improves access to truly affordable housing by building at least 90.000 social homes a year for the next five years and bolster security of tenure for those renting in the private sector.”
Also the universal credit and housing benefits are at the core of the issue. Sparkes along with Chief Executives of St Mungo’s, Shelter, Homeless Link, Depaul UK and Centrepoint, ask “to ensure that housing benefits cover the full rent and do not force tenants into debt as rent arrears are the first cause of homelessness.
“Today we are asking every candidate and party to adopt the Manifesto for Ending Homelessness and make homelessness a priority in #GE2019″, says Jon Sparkes.
- Improving access to truly affordable housing, by building at least 90,000 social homes a year over the next five years, and improving security for tenants in the private rented sector
- Strengthening support through the welfare system, through housing benefit that covers the cost of rent and fixing Universal Credit so that it doesn’t push people into homelessness
- Providing long-term, guaranteed funding for services which prevent homelessness and quickly get people off the street and into a stable home.
Talkeurope.org 