Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has backed a campaign by Homeless Link calling on the Chancellor to commit to adequately funding homelessness organisations as part of the upcoming spending review.
Homeless Link is the national membership organisation for frontline homelessness services. Representing over 900 organisations across England, it works to improve services through research, guidance and learning, and campaigns for social change to ensure everyone has a place to call home.
The organisation is now calling on the Government to implement robust long-term funding for homelessness charities. This call follows a report by the Local Government Association which found that homelessness services were issued with 12 short-term funding grants between 2015-2020, and half of those were allocated through a competitive process. A recent poll of Homeless Link members found 75% of responding members found short-term funding negatively impacts on the quality of the service they provide. Additionally, 83% of responding members stated that short-term funding led to inconsistent support for people experiencing homelessness.
Homeless Link are now calling for the Government to match the enhanced investment in rough sleeping services that was instigated by the pandemic, and deliver a simplified, guaranteed and long-term grant programme to local authorities. The #EveryoneInForGood campaign is imploring the Government to allocate the necessary funding to prevent and end homelessness.
Commenting, Andrew Gwynne said:
“Over the course of the pandemic, we saw the state mobilise in an unprecedented way to bring rough sleepers into secure accommodation. As we emerge from the pandemic, it is essential that the Government earmarks the necessary funding to help individuals facing homelessness.
As we approach winter, and with the cost-of-living continuing to raise, homelessness charities are rightfully concerned that the long-term funding to provide care and support those currently, or at risk of rough sleeping is wholly inadequate.
Everyone deserves a safe and secure home. The pandemic has shown that with enough political willpower, we can make a real difference for homeless people up and down the country. I urge the Chancellor to do the right thing and finally properly fund homelessness services.”
To find out more about the #EveryoneInForGood campaign click here.