11 March 2024
TURNING Lives Around CEO Steve Hoey has taken part in a mass lobbying event to get the plight of the homeless pushed up the political agenda ahead of the next General Election.
The event organised at Westminster by Homeless Link, a representative body for front line homeless organisations nationwide, coincided with the release of government figures which highlight the increase in sleeping rough across the UK and reports of 55 deaths of babies and small children while living in temporary accommodation between 2019 and 2023.
Increasing figures
According to data published by the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities, there was a 27% increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Autumn 2023 compared to the previous year, the largest annual increase for eight years and more than double the number sleeping rough in 2010 when records began. Yorkshire and Humber recorded a 59% increase – the largest regional increase in the UK.
But rough sleeping is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to homelessness. The number of people living in temporary accommodation in the UK has risen by 14% in a year to 279,400 – a record 142,490 of them children – and 47% of families have been in temporary accommodation for more than two years.
Locally, Wakefield has the highest rate of homelessness in West Yorkshire with approximately one in 538 people living in a hostel, temporary accommodation or on the streets. In 2023 Shelter reported some 657 people in Wakefield as homeless each night.
In Leeds, the recent ‘count’ of rough sleepers rose to 62; some 5,000 households are currently on Band A (the top priority) of the council waiting list with most waiting two years for an offer of a permanent home.
Lobbying power
The purpose of the Homeless Link lobby ‘Ending Homelessness Together', was to harness the lobbying power of its 800 member organisations in pushing the plight of the homeless and urgent need for action up the political agenda.
Member organisations attending the event met with at least one MP to highlight the ‘A Home for Everyone’ Manifesto which calls for:
As part of the lobby Steve met with Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn and Alex Sopel, MP for Leeds North West, both of whom were supportive of the aims of the Home for Everyone Manifesto and what TLA is doing to support those who are multiply disadvantaged and are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Leeds and Wakefield.
Need for action
“Whichever way you look at homelessness both locally and in the UK as a whole, the picture is bleak and it’s only getting worse,” reflected Steve.
“We need more money for front line services including a ring-fenced increased grant to local authorities for local provision and a huge increase in the building of social rent homes – 90,000 a year for five years would be a start. There also needs to be investment in prevention to fund work in schools and communities with families and children at risk of future homelessness.”
Steve added: “I feel it is important to keep informing MPs and others about the situation in Leeds, Wakefield and around the country regarding homelessness. As CEO of TLA and Chair of the Leeds Homelessness Prevention Forum, I wanted to join with other Homeless Link members to ensure homelessness is in MPs’ minds as they help draft manifestos, influence policy and can ensure government departments work together to tackle homelessness.
“It is imperative the next government faces this crisis head-on to ensure no one – especially a child – is without a place to call home.”
Captions:
Main photo: Steve Hoey (right) with Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central.
Bottom left: Evidence of homelessness next to the Thames, opposite MPs’ offices.
Bottom right: Inside the event.