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And here is a job for you: If you believe in what we are saying, work:have worked or have expertise/experience in this area, have some time to dedicate to this cause, End Homelessness The Humanion Campaign would like you to come on board and take up the leadership of and running of this campaign as Campaign Director. The Humanion neither believes in nor seeks to make money! So, this is all for the benefits of the soul! We look forward to welcome the Campaign Director of The Campaign. And we would welcome volunteers, too, who would do everything they can to promote and spread the word of the campaign. Contact: editor at thehumanion dot com. |
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End Homelessness The Humanion Campaign
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|| August 18: 2016 ||
ά.
A demonstrable increase in homelessness, driven by the cost and
availability of housing, has pushed the problem to such a level that a
renewed Government-wide strategy is needed, the Communities and Local
Government:CLG Select Committee concludes in its report. The Committee found
that despite some examples of great work, it is not acceptable that the
level of support offered to vulnerable people varies significantly across
the country. Many people are badly treated by council staff and those who
are judged not to be in priority need are often poorly served and sent away
without any meaningful support or guidance.
Homelessness Reduction Bill
The report is complemented by the Homelessness Reduction Bill, a Private
Member's Bill presented by Committee member Bob Blackman MP and supported by
the other members of the Committee. The Committee will take evidence on the
Bill, which is aimed at improving the support and advice offered to all
homeless people, once it has been published. It is unusual for a Select
Committee to not only sponsor a Bill on the back of an inquiry in this way
but also conduct pre-legislative scrutiny on it.
The Report
The Committee calls on the Government to monitor councils, identify those
not meeting their duties and review and reinforce the statutory Code of
Practice to ensure the levels of service that local authorities must provide
are clear. The Government should also consider setting a statutory duty for
local authorities to provide meaningful support to single homeless people
with a local connection after the inquiry found that many people receive
little more than a list of local letting agents.
The report explains that a shortage of social housing means many people rely
on the private rented sector to avoid or escape homelessness, but often the
financial barriers or instability of tenancies are too great. It urges the
Government to work with local authorities to deliver homes for affordable
rent and says local housing benefit levels should be reviewed to more
closely reflect market rents.
Clive Betts MP, Chair of the Communities and Local
Government Select Committee, said: "No one should be homeless in Britain
today, but the reality is that more and more people find themselves on the
streets, in night shelters or going from sofa to sofa to keep a roof over
their heads. They are often driven there by the availability and cost of
housing and have been failed by front line support services along the way.
The scale of homelessness is now such that a renewed Government strategy is
a must. It needs to not only help those who are homeless but also prevent
those vulnerable families and individuals who are at risk of becoming
homeless from joining them. All Departments will need to subscribe to this
common approach and contribute to ending homelessness.
Local authorities also have a big part to play. The Committee recognises
they face a significant task with funding pressures and legal obligations,
but vulnerable people are too often badly treated, being made to feel like
they are at fault, and offered ineffectual and meaningless advice. We want
the Government to monitor local authorities and help them achieve best
practice.
The Committee has made a number of recommendations and we plan to follow up
many of these issues in a year’s time to see what progress is being made. We
also hope that some of the issues can be addressed by our Committee
colleague Bob Blackman’s Homelessness Reduction Bill, which the Committee
will help take forward following its publication."
Mental health issues
The prevalence of mental health issues among homeless people, in particular
rough sleepers, is also highlighted, with Ministers urged to produce a
detailed action plan to address their needs. The Department for Communities
and Local Government and the Department for Heath should review funding of
mental health services for homeless people to maximise effectiveness, the
report adds.
Report Summary
We launched this inquiry in light of evidence that homelessness was
increasing. We wanted both to get a clearer picture of levels of
homelessness and to understand the pressures that affect homeless people.
Throughout our inquiry, it was clear that the term ‘homeless’ covers a wide
range of circumstances. The most visible form of homelessness is rough
sleeping, with people sleeping and living on the streets, in parks and in
shop doorways. However there is also a significant number of people who are
homeless but are in temporary accommodation and night shelters, or rely on a
series of short-term arrangements and the kindness of friends and family.
Whilst less visible, it is essential that the ‘hidden homeless’ are taken
into account in any discussion on how homelessness can be reduced.
We have found that homelessness is undoubtedly increasing. The Department
recognises that its statistics are not all currently robust enough to be
given the status of national statistics, but the picture is clear. It is
important to have reliable evidence on the groups among which the increase
is occurring. Data from CHAIN, the Combined Homelessness and Information
Network, a multi-agency database recording rough sleeping in London,
indicates that the greatest proportional increase in homelessness was among
those who had been homeless for two consecutive years, suggesting that
current intervention measures are not succeeding in preventing homelessness
from becoming entrenched. We are therefore calling for enhanced monitoring
of local authorities’ homelessness reduction work.
There is a variety of factors causing the increase in homelessness,
principal among them is the cost and availability of housing. The ending of
an Assured Shorthold Tenancy:AST in the private rented sector is a major
cause: once an AST has ended, tenants are often unable to find anywhere that
they can afford. The demand for housing pushes rents up, so the gap between
rents charged and the level of Local Housing Allowance available increases.
The challenges of the private rented sector are exacerbated by a shortage of
social housing. It is widely accepted that the country needs to be building
more homes and we support the Government’s aspirations for home ownership,
but many people simply cannot afford to buy a home, even with the support
mechanisms introduced. In areas where there is a clear local need, homes for
affordable rent must be built.
Much of our evidence covered the role of local authorities and how they
allocate limited resources to support homeless people. We are supportive of
local authorities and recognise the challenges they face, and many local
authorities work hard to protect some of their most vulnerable residents.
But it is not acceptable that the level of support offered to vulnerable
people can vary significantly across the country. We heard that many
homeless people seeking support from their council are made to feel as if
they were at fault and that councils can take steps to discourage
applications. People who are judged as not being in priority need, and
therefore not owed the full homelessness duty, are also poorly served.
Councils have a duty to provide advice and guidance to such people, but too
often this advice and guidance is meaningless and ineffectual. The
Government should review and reinforce the statutory Code of Practice to
ensure it outlines clearly the levels of service that local authorities must
provide and encourages regular training of staff to ensure a sympathetic and
sensitive service. We also considered the practice of local authorities
housing homeless families in areas outside their administrative boundaries.
We believe that this should only ever be an action of last resort. We would
like to see a clear statement of intent from the Government with regards to
the levels of service that homeless people can expect to receive from their
local council. This must be reinforced with monitoring so that homeless
individuals across the country can benefit from effective support and an end
to their homelessness at the earliest opportunity. We are confident that the
Private Member’s Bill tabled by Mr Blackman, and co-sponsored by all the
other members of the Committee, will contribute to achieving this.
Our inquiry also considered the experiences of especially vulnerable groups
and people with multiple complex needs. A particular concern is the
prevalence of poor mental health and we call on the Government to produce an
action plan to address this. We also note the vital work done by refuges
supporting victims of domestic violence and ask that the Government consider
providing additional resources. We are currently awaiting the outcome of the
Government’s review of welfare reforms and the impact on supported
accommodation but the Government should give certainty to the sector as a
matter of urgency. We believe that all supported accommodation schemes
should be exempt from the proposed reduction in rents.
On the strength of what we have learned throughout our inquiry, we have
concluded that the scale of homelessness in this country is such that a
renewed, cross-Departmental Government strategy is needed. We agree with
Howard Sinclair, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, that “Homelessness is
everyone’s issue and it is not inevitable”. All Departments need to
contribute to the ending of homelessness by subscribing to a common
approach. We will revisit many aspects of our report in twelve months’ time
to see what progress has been made.
Conclusions and recommendations
Official statistics
1.The Government must take steps to improve data collection and implement
the recommendations of the UK Statistics Authority as a matter of urgency.
The aim should be to ensure that figures capture trends more accurately to
reflect more than just the total number of homeless people, and the approach
taken by CHAIN should be rolled out further across the country. The scale of
hidden homelessness must also be appreciated: people who are homeless but
have not approached local authorities for help and those who do seek help
but are turned away before a formal application is made, discussed further
in Chapter 04, are still homeless and should be taken into account in
national statistics. The DCLG should give consideration to how this group
can be captured effectively in the data it collects. We will monitor the
Department’s progress improving their statistics, and will return to the
issue in twelve months’ time:Paragraph 12
Factors in the increase in homelessness
02. In light of the shortage of social housing, discussed further below, the
private rented sector is an essential means to help people escape and avoid
homelessness. However for many the financial barriers and instability of
tenancies are too great. The Government should explore measures to give
greater confidence both to tenants and to landlords to encourage them to let
to homeless people. Local Housing Allowances levels should also be reviewed
so that they more closely reflect market rents. Landlords should be
encouraged to offer longer Assured Shorthold Tenancies which allow tenants
to leave early without penalty:Paragraph 21
03. We note that there is a clear demand for low cost home ownership which
is answered in part by Starter Homes but not all people are in a position to
afford this step. There is therefore a case for the development of homes for
affordable rent which we encourage the Government to act on by working with
local authorities to deliver the homes that are needed at a local level.
(Paragraph 24)
04. We recognise the need to develop Starter Homes to meet the demand for
low cost home ownership but recognise the need for appropriate new homes for
affordable rent. The Government should therefore review the definition of
affordable housing to reflect local needs:Paragraph 29
05. We urge the Government to recognise that many 18–21 year olds are at
significant risk of homelessness, and to make provision for those who have
been in work but have lost their job to have a ‘grace period’ of, say, one
to two months before the housing element of Universal Credit is
withdrawn:Paragraph 30
06.The Government’s position is that claimants should receive the benefits
they are due, and then take responsibility for their own arrangements to
meet the costs of their outgoings. However we are concerned that this policy
is having a direct impact on levels of homelessness. All recipients of
housing support should have the option of having their housing benefits paid
directly to their landlord, reducing the likelihood of them falling into
arrears and increasing landlord confidence and willingness to let to tenants
at risk of homelessness. (Paragraph 34)
07. The impact of the welfare reforms of recent years have increased
pressure on levels of homelessness:Paragraph 36
The role of local authorities
08. The Government should consider setting a statutory duty to provide
meaningful support to single homeless people who can prove a local
connection:Paragraph 44
09. We acknowledge that the task facing local authorities is significant and
that under the current legislation, sorting and prioritising some applicants
over others is required. However it is not acceptable that the level of
support offered to vulnerable people can vary significantly across the
country. We welcome and applaud initiatives such as those at Newham and
Camden, but remain concerned that some other local authorities have not been
so proactive. As we have heard from witnesses who have been homeless: at a
time when they are most vulnerable, people deserve to be treated with
compassion and understanding rather than as if they were at fault. We
therefore call on the Government to monitor local authorities in order to
promote best practice, to identify authorities which are not meeting their
statutory duties and implement a code of practice to which local authorities
should adhere. We will continue to monitor the work of local authorities and
will return to the issue in twelve months and may consider commissioning
independent research of local authority practises:Paragraph 50
10. Housing people away from their homes and support networks should be an
action of last resort, but we appreciate the pressures that councils are
under and do not oppose out of area placements in principle. Nonetheless we
are concerned that some authorities do not always follow the statutory
guidance and fully consider the needs of the family being placed, or whether
there might be a nearer available home:Paragraph 53
11. Local authorities seeking to house homeless families face a significant
challenge, especially in high value areas such as London. However the needs
of the individuals must be fully considered. When this has not happened, it
is entirely appropriate that they should be able to challenge the decisions
taken by their local council. The Secretary of State should write to all
local housing authorities to reiterate councils’ duties as outlined in the
Code of Guidance and emphasise the duty of care that local authorities owe
to some of their most vulnerable residents:Paragraph 54
12. The impact on the areas receiving homeless households from other parts
of the country should be recognised, and the Government should monitor local
authorities to ensure that such placements only occur as a last resort. The
practice and process of housing homeless families in areas away from their
support networks, employment and schooling should be monitored. Local
authorities should be required to demonstrate that the families are
supported to make the moves successful, the receiving authority has been
notified, the placement is as close to the family’s former home as possible
and all the family’s needs have been fully considered. The Government should
also consider what guidance should be given to local authorities where
families move from low cost areas of the country to higher cost areas and
subsequently present themselves as homeless after short periods of time in
privately rented accommodation. We recognise that this might need new
secondary legislation:Paragraph 56
The service-user’s perspective
13. The Government should take steps to encourage and facilitate the
development of Positive Pathway schemes across the country. (Paragraph 66)
14. As a Committee we are supportive of local authorities and the work they
do. We understand the financial pressures they are under and the difficult
choices they have to make. But treating someone as a human does not cost
money. We have received too much evidence of councils and their staff
treating homeless people in ways that are dismissive and at times
discriminatory. This is unacceptable. The Government should review and
reinforce the statutory Code of Practice to ensure it outlines clearly the
levels of service that local authorities must provide and encourages regular
training of staff to ensure a sympathetic and sensitive service. Services
should put users first with a compassionate approach that gives individuals
an element of choice and autonomy:Paragraph 67
Vulnerable groups and multiple complex needs
15. Given the prevalence of mental ill health among homeless people,
especially those sleeping rough, it is essential that mental health support
services maintain the flexibility needed to deliver effective treatment and
that the sum of multiple needs is considered. We recognise that resources
for many services are stretched and call on the Department for Communities
and Local Government and the Department of Health to review the funding of
mental health services for homeless people with a view to maximising their
effectiveness at helping people out of homelessness as early as possible. We
therefore call on the Government to produce a detailed action plan on how it
intends to address the mental health needs of homeless people, including the
delivery of outreach support to rough sleepers and assessing the
vulnerability of applicants for homeless support. We see this as a priority
for the cross-Departmental Ministerial Working Group and will be seeking an
update in twelve months’ time:Paragraph 76
16 .Women who have been victims of domestic violence are particularly at
risk of becoming homeless, and there is currently insufficient support to
help them escape homelessness. We therefore call on Government to ensure
that sufficient resources are available to meet the very real need. We also
recommend that the Government review the level of refuges and hostel
accommodation for single people and consider providing additional resources
for further provision in areas of highest need:Paragraph 80
17. Consideration should therefore be given by the Government to review the
transition to independence [for children in care]. To help reduce the risk
of homelessness for children leaving care, the Government should consider a
policy whereby they should not be required to pay council tax until they are
21:Paragraph 81
Cross-Government working
18. On the strength of what we have learned throughout our inquiry, we have
concluded that the scale of homelessness in this country is such that a
renewed, cross-Departmental Government strategy is needed. We support the
view expressed by Howard Sinclair, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s that
“Homelessness is everyone’s issue and it is not inevitable”. All Departments
need to contribute to the ending of homelessness by subscribing to a common
approach. We heard much evidence that this is not the case currently. Jon
Sparkes from Crisis told us that “there is very little evidence that the
influence of DCLG is spreading to the other Departments”. We agree:Paragraph
90
19. The Government should exempt all supported accommodation schemes from
the proposed rent cut so that those with multiple complex needs can continue
to receive the help they need from these vital services. The outcomes of the
current review of supported accommodation should be announced as soon as
possible in order to give providers the certainty they need to plan ahead
and deliver services:Paragraph 93
20. It cannot be right that someone must choose between the support they
need and employment. To encourage homeless people to view employment as
their route into independence and stability, support and rent costs should
be separated and the Government should consider allowing housing benefit to
be used for support costs for a short period of time or make available
additional funding to facilitate the transition from homelessness to
employment and independent living:Paragraph 97
Homelessness legislation
21. We agree with the Minister’s assessment of the abolition of the priority
need categories in Scotland. The Scottish housing market is significantly
different to that in England, with, for example, a more stable private
rental sector. For this reason, we do not advocate abolishing the priority
need criterion:Paragraph 101
22. We look forward to hearing from the Department on its assessment of the
Welsh legislation in twelve months, including both on strengthening the duty
to prevent homelessness and on measures to address applicants who are deemed
to have behaved unreasonably:Paragraph 106
23. A vital component in addressing homelessness is making sure that the
support given to those at risk of homelessness and to those who are not in
priority need, is meaningful. We heard regularly that many councils are
doing their best to house those in priority need, while those not in
priority need receive unacceptably variable levels of assistance. We
therefore support the Homelessness Reduction Bill 2016–17 sponsored by Mr
Blackman and urge Government to support the legislation. The Government
should introduce statutory monitoring of local authority housing departments
to ensure they meet the requirements of a revised Code of Guidance that
outlines service levels to ensure that every homeless person receives the
support they need:Paragraph 107
24. In this report, we have called on Government to ensure that there is
effective oversight and monitoring of local authorities. We recognise the
pressures that councils are under and applaud the positive work that is
taking place. However all homeless people deserve to receive the best
possible support. In particular we would like to see monitoring of the
quality of customer service in housing teams, the frequency of out of area
placements and the process followed when housing families away from their
home. This would most effectively be done by the Government, but we do not
rule out the Committee seeking assurances directly from local authorities
that our concerns are being met:Paragraph 108: ω.
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Time for Action as London Rough Sleeping Rises Again
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End Homelessness The Humanion Campaign
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|| July 31: 2016 ||
ά. In London 8,096 people slept rough over the
course of 2015/16, figures released on July 29 revealed a 7
per cent rise on the previous year, and more than double the
reported figure of 3,975 in 2010/11.
Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: “These latest
figures lay down a gauntlet that Sadiq Khan simply cannot
ignore, he must show the ambition and leadership necessary
to tackle a situation that is now reaching crisis
proportions.
“It is encouraging that Mr Khan has shown support for a
change to the law to improve the help available to homeless
people from their councils while Mr Khan’s commitment to
build affordable housing is also welcome.
“What the capital needs now is a wide-ranging, ambitious
plan with sustained investment to tackle rough sleeping and
to prevent homelessness. For a city as prosperous as London
to be facing this sort of crisis is indefensible, but it is
within Mr Khan’s power to end it. We are here to help him to
achieve this and look forward to working with him in the
coming months.”
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The Homelessness Reduction Bill Could Make History by Making It a Duty of the Local Authorities to Stop People Becoming Homeless in the First Place
|| July 11: 2016 ||
ά.
This began at the end of June when Conservative MP and member of the
Communities and Local Government Committee, Bob Blackman announced that he
would use his Private Members' Bill to champion a new law aimed at tackling
and preventing homelessness in England. The Homelessness Reduction Bill has
received the backing of national homelessness charity, Crisis, who are
calling on MPs from across the political spectrum to support it.
Drawing on the recommendations of an expert panel of council
representatives, lawyers and housing experts, the bill would require all
councils in England to take action to prevent people from becoming homeless
in the first place.
Bob Blackman MP said: “I am delighted to announce that my
Private Members’ Bill will focus on preventing and tackling homelessness in
England. During the CLG Committee’s recent inquiry into homelessness, I
heard disturbing first-hand accounts from people who’d been forced to sleep
on the streets because they couldn’t get the help they needed. We cannot
stand by and allow this to continue. That’s why I’m calling on my fellow MPs
to help put an end to this injustice once and for all by supporting my Bill.
It’s not a cure-all, but it will be a major step forward in tackling
homelessness. I served in local government for 24 years before becoming an
MP and I have seen at first hand the importance of taking action to combat
homelessness.”
Crisis Chief Executive Jon Sparkes said: “This bill could transform how we
tackle homelessness in England. It offers an historic opportunity, and if
passed, would represent one of the most important developments for
homelessness in nearly 40 years. Homelessness isn’t inevitable, yet the law
as it stands in England means that single homeless people who go to their
councils for help can be turned away with no option but to sleep on the
streets. This is unacceptable.
Prevention is better than cure, and for homeless people this is especially
so. It’s already been shown to work in Wales, where it has dramatically
reduced the need for people to be re-housed. There is a wealth of evidence,
opinion and support for a change in the law on homelessness in England, and
we urge MPs from all parties to get behind this historic bill. For all these
reasons we will stand beside Mr Blackman as he pushes this bill through
Parliament.”
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Preventing Homelessness and Adverse Childhood Experiences are Top of Welsh Communities Secretary’s Agenda
|| July 03: 2016 ||
ά. Tackling the needless and
preventable problem of homelessness is a key priority for Communities and
Children Secretary Carl Sargeant.
Addressing Shelter Cymru’s annual conference in his first speech since
responsibility for Housing was returned to him, Carl Sargeant said that he
was determined to do everything in his power to address the problem.
He highlighted the emphasis on prevention in the Housing:Wales: Act which he
took through the Assembly in 2014, and the Welsh Government’s commitment to
making sure that this is implemented in practice. He also reminded delegates
of the Welsh Government’s commitment to increase housing supply, by doubling
the number of new affordable homes to 20,000.
He said: “Providing people with a safe, warm and secure home remains a key
priority. This is why we have committed to an ambitious target of providing
a further 20,000 affordable homes during this term of government. We have
made good progress in this area, but we will do more.''
He also said that he wanted to make greater progress in
reducing the number of young people placed in Bed & Breakfast accommodation.
Carl Sargeant went on: “We have already taken steps to ensure closer working
between homelessness teams and children services in local authorities but I
want much more done to avoid the use of temporary accommodation. I
understand the calls for an outright ban but need to have another
alternative in place to avoid young people having to be sent to
accommodation miles away from family, friends and training or education
placements.
I am very pleased that more than half of our Local Authorities no longer use
Bed & Breakfast accommodation for young people, but I believe that there is
more we can do to encourage Children’s Services to work even more closely
with their Housing colleagues when planning and delivering services.”
He added that key organisations would meet to discuss this issue next month
and new plans on youth homelessness prevention and care leavers’
accommodation will be published shortly. The Cabinet Secretary also
emphasised that he was fundamentally committed to doing everything he can to
give children in Wales the very best start in life and to giving every young
person the same opportunities.
Carl Sargeant concluded: “Issues such as, domestic violence or substance
misuse can have a devastating impact on a young person’s life. I want to
find new and innovative ways in which we can break the cycle of damaging
childhood experiences. Providing access to a safe secure home can play a
crucial role in this.”
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End Homelessness: UN Rights Expert Applauds Media Initiative to Put the Spotlight on Homelessness in San Francisco
| The San Francisco Chronicle: The Humanion is with You in Solidarity with Your Campaign to Highlight the Plight of Homelessness | ||
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The San Francisco Chronicle |
The Humanion
End Homelessness
This is not how a human soul is meant to be: a human soul must never be brought this low that it has no home! Image: UN Photo:Pernaca Sudhakaran |
|
|| June 28: 2016 ||
ά.
The United Nations human rights expert on housing today commended a large
media initiative in the US city of San Francisco aimed at bringing the issue
of homelessness to the forefront of discussions and encourage civil
engagement.
“The portrayal of homeless people in the media has a significant impact on
public perception and empathy,” Leilani Farha, the United Nations Special
Rapporteur on adequate housing, said in a statement issued by the UN Office
of the High Commissioner for Human Rights:OHCHR. “I believe the San
Francisco media push will encourage other media to report on homelessness in
new ways, with a view to assessing accountability and offering solutions.”
The five-day media initiative led by a local daily newspaper, the San
Francisco Chronicle, and starting on June 29, will feature stories on
multiple causes of homelessness and potential solutions. It will involve
almost 70 local, national and international news outlets.
Describing homelessness as a “human catastrophe,” Ms. Farha urged all
governments to recognize it as a human rights crisis and commit to
eradicating this global phenomenon by 2030, in line with the new Sustainable
Development Goals. “The media have an important role to play in this.
without public pressure, this global crisis will continue,” she noted.
Ms. Farha also noted that the initiative is an opportunity to “shift the
conversation” on homelessness from one of individual failure to government
responsibility and systemic causes.
In her latest report to the UN Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur
had noted that homelessness is a fact of life in all countries of the world,
regardless of the level of development of their economic or governance
systems. Underlining homelessness as “one of the most egregious violations”
of the right to housing, she urged UN Member States to address its root
causes by implementing national strategies “anchored” in human rights.
Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Human Rights Council to examine and
report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The
positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid
for their work. ω.
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Shelter Stories of Hope and Home
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What Finland is Doing: The Only Country in the EU Where Despite the Recession Homelessness Continues to Decrease
|| June 19: 2016 ||
ά.
Despite the economic recession and other negative pressures Finland is the only
EU country where homelessness is still going down. How and why?
On June 09, the Finland Government issued a resolution on the
Action Plan for Preventing Homelessness in Finland 2016–2019. The plan
consistently emphasises early recognition of the risk of becoming homeless and
rapid intervention when a person is at risk of homelessness or has recently
become homeless. For these preventive measures to succeed, combating
homelessness should be integrated into the wider goal of preventing social
exclusion, which requires increased collaboration across different parts of the
society.
Earlier results are encouraging
Recent efforts to tackle homelessness in Finland have yielded good results.
Between 2008 and 2015, the programme to reduce long-term homelessness:PAAVO:
lowered the number of homeless people by 1,345:a drop of 35%: and in 2015, the
number of homeless people living alone fell below 7,000 for the first time.
According to the European Federation of National Organisations working with the
Homeless:FEANTSA: Finland is the only EU country where homelessness is still
decreasing despite the economic recession and social pressures.
Goal of 2,500 dwellings
The new plan aims to address housing-related problems, such as unpaid rent, at
an early stage, and to safeguard continued access to housing through services
like housing consultation. Supporting people who are in new housing conditions
is important, especially at the initial stages. Specific measures are targeted
at curbing rental debt and at enhancing mutual insurance protection for both
tenants and landlords.
A further goal is that by 2019, at least 2,500 new dwellings or places to stay
will be allocated to the homeless or groups at risk of becoming homeless.
Primarily, the dwellings should be a part of the regular housing stock: the
intention is to use both new ARA rental housing and dwellings rented from the
market by housing providers for subletting in accomplishing this goal. This kind
of model is being tested by the city of Espoo in co-operation with the
Y-Foundation.
Homelessness agreements between the state and cities
In order to implement local measures preventing homelessness, the state will
negotiate agreements with the cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, Oulu,
Lahti, Jyväskylä, and Kuopio as well as with any surrounding municipalities or
other cities willing to participate. The agreements will outline solutions to
homelessness, such as making use of reasonably priced rental housing stock,
guidance, and any possible local actions. In their agreements, the cities commit
to a planned and preventative approach in managing homelessness.
The cities will use the agreements as a basis for formulating a strategy for
preventing homelessness. This strategic work is funded by the European Social
Fund:ESF: and it is done in collaboration with the Housing Finance and
Development Centre of Finland. The cities will also begin implementing the
measures for preventing homelessness.
By recruiting cities to produce local strategies and plans for preventing
homelessness, Finland is taking a pioneering approach that is generating
interest abroad. The Ministry of the Environment prepared the action plan for
preventing homelessness in close collaboration with an extensive network of
partners. The state will now work together with the cities, non-governmental
organisations, and service providers in implementing the plan.
Action Plan for Preventing Homelessness in Finland
2016–2019
Inquiries:
Peter Fredriksson, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 250 066, firstname.lastname@ym.fi:
Jaana Nevalainen, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 250 195, firstname.lastname@ym.fi
Tea Usvasuo, Special Adviser to the Minister, tel. +358 46 922 8946,
firstname.lastname@ym.fi:ω.
‽: 200616
Louise's Story of Hope and Home Thanks to the Support She and Her Children Received from Shelter
Louise and two of her children handed in a petition to David Cameron at Number 10 Downing Street on behalf of Shelter.
|| May 30: 2016 || ά. To highlight the wonderful, dedicated, tireless works of Shelter for giving hope to homeless people and championing and campaigning to end homelessness we are publishing some of the great, moving and inspiring stories of human beings, families and people who had fallen onto the cruel, cold, wet and hungry streets and because of the works Shelter does these people, children, women, men of all backgrounds find Hope and Home.
Ending Homelessness is a MORAL DUTY of any and all human beings for we cannot chose to accept that other human beings should live on the cruel, cold, wet and hungry streets. We simply cannot chose to accept that.
We can only chose it for others if we can chose it for ourselves which means that it is okay for me to fall onto the street and live in the rain, in the absolutely freezing cold, in bone-crunching-knifing-chill of the bewildering wind, in hunger and in absolute degradation of humanity. If we cannot chose it for ourselves than we cannot chose it for others and therefore, we ought, we must chose not to accept it and do anything and everything in our power to END it.
Here's the story of Louise Walker who is
from west London. She lost her home after separating from
her husband and contacted Shelter for advice. One year on,
Louise shares the family’s progress.
I want to give an account of how we as a family are now
doing. Back in July 2013 I was at my wits end. I had been in
a bed and breakfast for the past four months living in one
room with my four children. We shared a kitchen, bathroom
and communal area with another family that consisted of
three adult males and a teenage boy.
Feeling afraid and in an unsafe place, I
was tired and had lost all faith and hope in the local
authorities, who I thought would help me. It had been 15
months since I had been evicted from the family home due to
the separation of me and my ex-husband. I had spent 11
months at a friends and in March 2013 the local council
finally placed me in a B&B.
I thought I was on the final home stretch, that within six
weeks this nightmare would end. How wrong was I? Six weeks
turned into four months of trying to reassure my children
that things were going to get better, which was something
that I was finding difficult to believe. Then a mum of a
classmate of my daughter gave me the number for Shelter. I
immediately contacted them.
Within a week I had recorded an interview on camera for
Shelter highlighting the plight of families that were in
B&B’s for longer than six weeks. Shelter provided me with a
solicitor who contacted the local authorities on my behalf.
And I wrote an email to the director of housing with an
attachment of the interview. Within two weeks I had been
offered a three-bedroom house. The nightmare was finally
over but in that time I had lost my home, my job and my
confidence.
Well, a year on and I’m happily settled in my new home. I’ve
certainly regained my confidence. I’m retraining at the
moment so that I can start my own business, putting together
bespoke dessert tables for parties. I also became a
campaigner for Shelter. To date I’ve done interviews with
the Evening Standard, The Independent, Sky News, Bella
Magazine and I appeared on ITV’s This Morning in December.
Since appearing in these articles, I’ve been approached by
people giving me an account of their circumstances which has
enabled me to provide support and direct them to Shelter. In
2013, my teenage daughter Renee delivered a touching speech
about being a homeless teenager at the Shelter Christmas
Carol Service. It was so moving. This year, I am proud to
say that Renee took her GCSE’s and obtained five A’s, one A*
and three B’s.
Shelter is truly an amazing charity. I
can’t thank them enough for helping me to get my life back
on track. The staff do a marvellous job at giving help and
advice to thousands of people up and down the country. And
work tirelessly to draw attention to the predicaments of
families who find themselves in desperate situations like
myself.
I’m also so thankful to the individuals and companies that
support Shelter because without their help the end of my
story could have been very different. Louise delivered this
speech at the reception of Shelter’s annual carol service at
the church of St Martin-in-the-fields.
If you are facing homelessness or are in temporary
accommodation and want advice, Shelter can help.
ω.
Images: Shelter
‽: 300516
London's Housing Crisis: How It is Affecting Children
||April
16, 2016||
Almost one in five of London’s privately renting families
have moved in the last 12 months, new figures highlighted by
the National Housing Federation have shown. By contrast,
only 6% of all other families have done the same.
The figures, released as part of the Federation’s 100,000
Affordable Homes for London campaign, show how the capital’s
housing crisis is affecting children. The campaign is
calling on the next mayor to commit to tackling the problem
and take up housing associations’ offer to build 100,000 new
affordable homes.
Homelessness up by 6% in England, While Success in Wales Could Show the Way Forward
|
“The law as it stands in England means that single homeless people who go to their councils for help are often turned away to sleep on the streets – cold, desperate and forgotten. It’s a scandal that someone in this situation can be told they’re not vulnerable enough for help.'' |
March 26, 2016: Homelessness
figures out today show that 14,470 households were accepted
as homeless between October and December last year - a rise
of 6% across England and 10% in London compared to the
previous year.
Meanwhile, in Wales between October and December, the number
of households accepted as homeless fell by 67% compared to
the previous year to a total of 405. At the start of 2015,
the Welsh Government introduced a new legal duty to prevent
or relieve homelessness. Where Welsh councils worked to
prevent households from becoming homeless, they were
successful in 66% of cases.
Responding, Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:
“Homelessness in England is soaring, and today’s figures
show a further 6% rise between October and December of 2015.
We already have a huge task ahead of us, and many of the
underlying causes remain: more and more people are
struggling to pay their rent in an increasingly insecure
market, while cuts to housing benefit and local council
funding have left the safety net in tatters.
“Yet if we look across to Wales, we see a very different
picture that could show the way forward for England. In 2014
the Welsh Government enacted a new law requiring councils to
help prevent people from becoming homeless, and as we can
see from today’s figures, they are already having
considerable success. Where councils intervened to prevent
people from becoming homeless, they were successful in two
thirds of cases. At the same time, we have seen a drop of
67% in the number of people formally accepted as homeless.
“The law as it stands in England means that single homeless
people who go to their councils for help are often turned
away to sleep on the streets – cold, desperate and
forgotten. It’s a scandal that someone in this situation can
be told they’re not vulnerable enough for help.
“Now is the time for action, and the course is very clear.
We strongly urge the government to follow through on its
commitment to consider options – including legislation – to
prevent more people from becoming homeless. It is essential
that all homeless people can get the help they need and that
councils get the necessary funding to deliver on this.”
Statistics
At the end of last year there were 69,140 households in
temporary accommodation in England - 12% higher than in
2014.
The proportion of households becoming homeless due to the
ending of a private tenancy was 31% (4,510 households)
across England and 40% in London (2,080 households).
P: 270316
Dans le Noir? and Centrepoint Gastronomic Dinner for Homeless Young People Was a Success
Guests line up at Dans le Noir? and Centrepoint Gastronomic Dinner for Homeless Young People: Image: Dans le Noir?
March 09, 2016: Dans le Noir? the celebrated dining in the
dark restaurant staffed by blind people, and the youth
homelessness charity Centrepoint hosted a gastronomic
dinner.
The dinner was held for Centrepoint’s vulnerable 16-25
year-olds to celebrate Dans le Noir?’s 10th Anniversary and
decade of successful charitable ventures.
Homeless young people experienced heightened flavours by
enjoying a gastro dinner in the dark. The menu at Dans le
Noir? has evolved over the past 10 years and in November
2015, Michelin star chef, Julien Machet, was hired to
consult and help John Houel, the London Head Chef, create
the four eclectic menus. Chef Julien was present to assist
with the creation of this spectacular dinner.
Dans le Noir? and
Centrepoint
support those furthest from the jobline to help them get
into work. The two companies are joining forces to maximise
awareness of the difficulties that blind, and homeless young
people, face when trying to get into employment.
Dining in the dark challenges people’s preconceptions of
other people. Mind-blowing Gov.uk statistics estimate that
16% of working age adults are disabled. Recent statistics
show that only 46.3% of disabled people are in employment
compared to 76.4% of non-disabled people, making it a
significant social issue. Additionally, disabled people are
significantly more likely to experience unfair treatment in
work.
Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem London Mayoral Candidate 2016,
says: "Given that the level of homelessness in London has -
sadly - grown over the past 4 years, it’s fantastic to see
initiatives like this from Dans le Noir? aimed at helping
young homeless people. I would encourage other employers
across London to explore if they could help develop schemes
like this which offer a route to support people in
furthering their skills through training and employment and
a way in to permanent housing."
Alistair Burt, Minister of State (Department of Health),
says: “Dans le Noir? is an exciting venture for diners and
staff alike. The success of this unique restaurant
demonstrates how important it is to look beyond sight loss
when recruiting staff, while its partnership with
Centrepoint is providing life-changing opportunities for
those experiencing terrible hardship. I am thrilled to be
invited to take part in this very special dinner.”
Shahrar Ali, No 3 on the Green Party London Assembly, says:
"One of the remarkable things about Dans le Noir? is that it
turns the tables on the sighted, who are rendered virtually
helpless by the blackout conditions and are entirely
dependent on blind people to guide them. It’s a great
experience for diners but by creating these rare conditions
where blind people are better off, it also brings home just
how hard it can be to find work if you have any kind of
disadvantage. That’s something that young homeless people
also know all about, and this is a fantastic joint
initiative by Dans le Noir? and Centrepoint to draw
attention to those difficulties. It’s my privilege to be a
part of it and to find out what practical things I can do to
help if I’m elected to City Hall in May."
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, Green Party, says: “I commend
the work of Dans le Noir? and the way they have helped blind
people to gain employment; and with so many homeless people
on the streets it would be wonderful if more companies could
support those who are furthest from the job-line to help
them to get back into employment.”
Edouard de Broglie, who founded Dans le Noir? in Paris in
2004, says “50% of our staff have a high disability, yet we
still operate an efficient and profitable company. We have
an incredibly low staff turnover which shows the dedication
of our long standing team. We want to show big companies
that those with disabilities shouldn’t be limited to
performing only menial jobs. Our guides are incredibly
skilled and challenge the perception that blind or visually
impaired can serve in a restaurant. Who could have said that
10 years ago?”.
Sadie Odeogberin, Head of Skills and Employment, at
Centrepoint, says: “The number of young people rough
sleeping in London has more than doubled in the last four
years, but providing a safe place to stay isn’t enough to
solve the youth homelessness crisis. That’s why Centrepoint
supports each young person staying with us to find a job or
a route into education or training. Like Dans Le Noir?,
we’re committed to helping those furthest from the world of
work achieve their ambitions. It’s not an easy journey for a
homeless young person to make and thanks to the generosity
of Dans Le Noir?, we can reward them an experience they will
never have had before. Homeless young people are every bit
as talented as their peers and with the right support and
hard work they can fulfil their potential.”
Dans le Noir? is based at 30-31 Clerkenwell Green, London
EC1R 0DU: Reservations on 020 7253 1100
End Homelessness
P: 100316
|
The Humanion Supports the
Housing Federation's 100,000 Affordable Homes
for London
||April 16, 2016|| With the help of the next Mayor of London, housing associations want to build 100,000 affordable homes for London over the next four years. London is in the midst of
a deep housing crisis London Needs 100,000
Affordable Homes Built by 2020 Housing Associations are
Ready to Build Invest £2.9bn in affordable housing in London in order to maximise social rent together with other low cost housing options within the programme and for which every pound put in by the GLA, housing associations will match with £7 of private funding to build new homes. Work with us to define
what ‘affordable’ means in a way which works for
the people of London and enables housing
associations to build the homes we desperately
need. |
The Humanion believes ''No humans can be or stay humans if they do not have a home which by the way is the only avenue to see that someone is connected to that country/nation. If one is homeless this person is cut out of his/her country/nation all together. The society must ensure everyone has a home from which no one can turn them away like the way no one can take their citizenship away so that each and every member of such a nation has a real stake in the country/nation. There is adversarial nonsense about it might be heard like intentional homelessness or this or the other. Everyone needs a home and it is the duty/job of the government to ensure that that is the case. For those who have no home have no connection to the nation they are supposed to be part of even if they are citizens of that country/nation they are essentially robbed off their citizenship.'' Readmore
''That
disempowerment of the majority of the populace by way of
ensuring that most people have no connection or stake to the
society/state in which they live since most people live on
rented properties paying to enrich the private landlords and
because of this they do not have any stake whatever to the
nation they are supposed to belong. They become homeless
simply because the landlords want them out and give them
notice.
''This is the most profound of the all problems that this country
faces. Most people do not and cannot own a home. They simply can
never buy a home so that they have to live on rented
accommodation which is either social housing or private housing.
Social housing has been diminishing and now been effectively
wiped out. No more social housing. Now there are homeless
people, there are homeless floating people, there are old social
housing renting people and the privately renting population. But
in a nutshell all these people who do not own a home have no
connection or stake to the nation. Each and every single member
of a nation must have a home that no one can take away from
them. No government, no authority, no landlord, no parliament
can take it away. The very way one’s citizenship to a country
cannot be taken away one’s home must not be taken away. Only
than truly a nation can say that each and every member of it is
connected to the nation and has a stake in it. Since without a
home a human is really not a proper human. Abode is what a home
is called in English. Abode is where one abides or resides. A
home is to a human being as the skin of a human physiology;
without the home of the skin a human simply cannot live or
continue to be a human physically. And the place, the skin where
one resides is the person of the humanity of that body that
lives within that person. Therefore, without an abode to abide a
person is not a person proper as there cannot live a human
without skin.
''It is the duty, responsibility and humanical imperative for
society to provide each and every of its member with a permanent
home; a home is the skin of a human being which completes his/her
person and it is absolutely deadly to take that skin away for
this withdrawal or lack of skin ensures the ultimate perishing
of that incomplete being. This is the ultimate and final
yardstick of what civilisation is about. Homelessness and
citizenship do not go together, cannot go together.
''If one does not have a home and lives on the street one cannot
even vote in an election, one cannot even get mails sent to them
and one would have to go through almost impossible amount
of obstacles even to get one’s lawful entitlement to a benefit. The
social housing is not a charity; it is the certainty that one is
part of a country and nation and one shall remain so. Social
housing must, therefore, be provided for those who do not have a
home. They should pay a rent but that should be decided on a
thirty year life-span like a mortgage and the government then
invest that rent (putting all the rent together in the form of
some investment/endowment) so that at the end of the thirty year
period the rent should bring in a reasonable sum of money in one
go. The government takes its rent out of it and take the rest as
the final payment for the home and the person then becomes owner
of that home. One can do the maths if one likes. If one pays a
rent, say, of 10,000 a year, in 30 years one would pay 300,000.
If each month’s rent is paid to even an endowment policy this
should pay a big sum at the end of it. This way the government
can renew its housing stock in every thirty years cycle. And
truly the nation will achieve civilisation. This, cannot be
accepted, as a satisfactory thing that humans, citizens of an
advanced democracy live on the street and they are left there to
die! This is not acceptable. This simply and utterly is not
acceptable. People, must not be forced to live on rented houses
of private sector where they live as if they are committing a
crime. They are given notice and they are chucked out. This is
not acceptable at all. A person cannot be a person unless a
person has a home and unless a person is a person than he/she
cannot be part of a nation that is made of persons. This is the
other yardstick of civilisation that a nation ensures ( through
its state/government) that each and every of its members are
given a skin to complete that person’s becoming a true human
being who is capable of calling himself/herself a complete
person because he/she has the skin to offer him/her a home.''
Readmore
End Homelessness Campaign
On this philosophic principle that a person is not a person until that entity of a human being has a home for a home as skin completes that person's becoming a whole and complete person, The Humanion is launching End Homelessness Campaign
To Campaign to End Homelessness in the UK
a. End Rough Sleeping
No one must sleep on the street
b. End Floating Homelessness
Families and individuals/single persons living and floating around bed and breakfast accommodations, in second/third rate privately rented temporary accommodations, often sent to live in areas/towns/cities where they have no connections/communities/friends/families and children are missing schools/falling behind
c: End the Culture of Acceptance that Homelessness is Acceptable
End the culture of politics/politicians/political parties accepting that homelessness is acceptable. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. PERIOD.
d: End Local Authorities Making People Homeless Using Court System
End the practice/culture/acceptance whereby local authorities and other social housing bodies/Private Landlords as a matter of course, making people/families/children homeless by using routine magistrate court mechanism. Go and check the records of Magistrate Courts and other court records and see for yourself how many people are systematically and routinely being uprooted from their homes every week. It is astounding to see how absolutely ruthless the local authorities can get (using public money to fund the legal cost and imposing further financial burdens on the poor tenants that they are evicting).
e: Achieve Change in Private Sector Renting
Achieve change in the private sector renting laws so that there comes into force an equitable, statutory and universal (applicable equally in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) system/mechanism and culture in private sector renting so that the private sector landlords do not think they own the country and can treat the people renting as their means to make profit. Moreover, renting from private sector is now, for an individual is probably more difficult than attempting to go to the moon unless they are rich. This must change. Anyone should be able to rent from properties that are available for rent without facing a Himalaya of barriers put before them by way of references/credit checks/deposits/rent in advance and lot more and most major estate agents simply won't even hear anyone who would pay the rent using housing benefits. What is wrong with the rent money/the pounds paid from Housing Benefit? Are these pounds not good enough? This must change.
f: Achieve the political/social/cultural/economical acceptance that every UK citizen has a right to a home
Achieve the political/social/cultural/economical acceptance that every UK citizen has a right to (as much right to the citizenship of the nation) a home and those that cannot buy a home must be provided with a home by the government/state. If they say, it is not possible, The Humanion Challenges them to show why or how it is not possible. Because this is a problem and mathematically speaking, that what does not have a solution inherently present inside it, cannot be a problem.
Please, join The Campaign. Let us end homelessness in the UK.
Thank you
P: 11.01.16
Become Patrons to The Campaign
People who are in influential positions can support The Campaign by becoming Patrons of The Campaign by adding their names onto The Campaign Page and doing everything they can to promote The Campaign.
Media Partners
Media outlets can join and support The Campaign as Media Partners and do all The Humanion is doing with their outlets to End Homelessness in the UK.
Write to End Homelessness in the UK
People who are working with homeless people/families can support by writing for The Campaign about issues of Homelessness
Homelessness Charity Practising Partners
Homelessness Charities can become Practising Partners and support and promote The Campaign in the domains they are working on.
Doctors for Ending Homelessness
So many a doctor at so many an NHS-run hospital have found themselves treating homeless people/rough sleepers being brought to hospitals, again and again, coming from the street and going back to the street and they seem to be unable to do anything much to help them. So that they keep coming and going back to the streets till some of them disappear from the earth. Join The Campaign to End Homelessness in the UK as Doctors for Humanity Partners.
Home is not where the heart is
Nor is it where things are kept
A home is what skins the soul
Without it a human is non-person
Incomplete suffers slowly dying
END Homelessness The Humanion Campaign
( Copyright @ Munayem Mayenin Anyone may use the poem, so long, it is linked back to The Campaign Page)
Why
Homelessness is a problem. A Mathematician approaches a problem to solve it, knowing/believing the problem is solvable for without a solution inherently present inside the problem, a problem is not a problem Mathematically. So she/he seeks to solve the problem which will be solved.
The most visionary and most advanced creative thinking is a must in order to approach this problem of homelessness with a right mindset so that a solution can be found. One does not, for example, take a butter knife to cut a rock nor take a kitchen knife to operate a patient. Hence, right approach and mindset is a must. At the same time, a Consultant, is faced with a patient, displaying symptoms that she has never encountered: does she go home? Does she think, this has no cure? Does she think, there is nothing, that could help the patient? Does she simply tells the patient to go home? No, she does not. She believes in the solution of this problem and she will find it (because she shall not cease until she does).
The politicians have given up thinking for a solution of the problem of solving homelessness and accepted that homelessness is an inevitability.
IT ABSOLUTELY IS NOT AN INEVITABILITY.
It is simply a matter of making it appear politically acceptable. We must not accept homelessness as acceptable. Once we have achieved this that homelessness is not only not acceptable but also that we won't simply have it. That will force the politicians/political parties to wake up and do something about it.
Think of Apollo 13: did the NASA people give up and leave the Astronauts to hang out to dry because they were in trouble? No, at NASA, they believed there was and must be a solution to that problem and they brought to bear the highest most best of human ingenuity on the problem, sought and found a solution (most importantly, absolutely, doggedly, refused even to consider thinking of giving up) and brought the Astronauts home. And, indeed, not only was it the finest hour in NASA's history, it is one of the pinnacle-hour of human ingenuity.
Hence, we repeat: there cannot a be a problem without having an inherent solution inside it (for without that it is not a problem, Mathematically speaking).
And The Humanion believes we can resolve the problem of homelessness if we seek to do it by making a choice that we simply won't accept homelessness.
How
End Homelessness The Humanion Campaign
The Campaign is not, in a traditional sense, an organisation. But we seek to bring together as many and as diverse range of organisations in the entire length and breadth of the country from working with and among the peoples of all nations on the British Isles as well as individuals.
Does it cost anything: Nothing
Does anyone make money out of it: None. No one
Is The Campaign Raising Money: No
Is anyone getting promotion out of this: No one.
However, one might argue The Humanion gets benefitted; however, The Humanion is a Human Enterprise (that does not believe in money nor in making money: rather in human enterprises that belong to all those who chose to belong to them which requires neither money nor the idea of it. And in this sense, The Humanion is a not for profit/charitable body. Or that The Humanion Editor or people involved in The Humanion Team ( to which anyone can join if they believe in what The Humanion stands for and is doing) would get free promotion: no one in The Humanion including the Editor makes any money from or off The Humanion. The Editor thinks/writes/does the work for The Humanion for nothing. Nor does he rely on income from his books for he works to earn a living.
So what does the Campaign do? This is How and What it Does
Individuals
Individuals can join and support The Campaign. To do so is simply to send an email to editor at thehumanion dot com with Subject Line End Homelessness The Humanion Campaign Individual.
If you like, your name would be added on the page for individuals supporting the Campaign with the name of the place where you live (if you provide that information), if you don't want that, instead, your number would be added there, with the information as to where you live. That's all you have to do as an individual to join and support the Campaign
What do the supporters do?
The following
You use a link to the Campaign Page in your emails that you send out
You do anything that you can to spread the Word of the Campaign
You place a link to the Campaign Page on all your Social Media/Websites
If you are working in the fields with homeless people and can write/have time to write about issues relating to homelessness then write about these issues for The Campaign Page.
If you work in the media/PR/charities/any other fields relating to the areas concerning housing issues do everything that does not cost anything to promote The Campaign. You become the PR of End Homelessness The Humanion Campaign
For Organisations
To join, you might want to speak with us. Send us an email. Otherwise, send us an email to editor at thehumanion dot com with Subject Line End Homelessness The Humanion Campaign Organisation
We would add your organisation on the Organisation Supporter Page
What do you have to do
Place a link of The Campaign on all the websites that your organisation has, expressing your support
Use the Link of The Campaign Page on all your outgoing emails
Mention your support in all your promotional literatures/materials to The Campaign
For Media
Whatever media outlet you are, please, join The Campaign. Let us End Homelessness in the UK
For PR
Whatever you are promoting join The Campaign and you can spread the word far and wide without spending a penny on the cause but your will to make a difference
Charities Working with Homeless People
Join The Campaign and spread the word.
Let us End Homelessness in the UK
Thank you
P: 11.01.16