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We can end rough sleeping...
Homeless Link believes that rough sleeping in Britain can be abolished forever by the time the Olympics come to Britain in 2012. On this page you can find out about our 2012 campaign and how you can get involved and help us to end this social injustice once and for all.
New plan to end rough sleeping
Read the Government's new plan to end rough sleeping: No One Left Out - Communities Ending Rough Sleeping
Read our letter to Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP (PDF 55 KB) in response to the new rough sleeping strategy.
Read MP Iain Wright's statement to parliament about the rough sleeping strategy
LATEST: London housing associations pledge to tackle homelessness
How many days are left?
To find out how many days are left until our deadline in 2012, take a look at the countdown on the London Olympics website.
10 things that need to happen to end rough sleeping
At the 2008 Labour and Conservative party conferences, Homeless Link handed out a 10-point manifesto outlining the key things that need to happen to put an end to street homelessness. To reach our 2012 goal the government needs to:
- Own the agenda: Highlight Britain’s achievements to date, which are a world exemplar in this field. Voice the ambition to end rough sleeping by 2012 in each local authority area and nationally
- Access to shelter: Give everyone an alternative to a night on the streets, without having to move out of their home area
- A safety net for migrants: Ensure everyone has an appropriate welfare safety net for shelter and food, regardless of their status
- Close the routes to homelessness: Work together across government to prevent homelessness among care leavers, prison leavers and ex-service personnel
- Incentivise prevention: Help public services and local authorities to work together to prevent homelessness and provide more responsive services, including reforms to housing benefit
- Access to activity: Give everyone a meaningful alternative to a day spent killing time. Expand the Government’s Places of Change approach to all areas and back hostels and day centres that change lives
- Matrix commissioning: Support people to leave homelessness with a strong web of commissioned accommodation, employment, health and advice services personalised to their needs
- Moving through hostels: Move people on from hostels as soon as they are ready. Commit to moving on the 45% of residents that are ready to go but have no suitable housing option
- Access to suitable housing: Make sure quality mainstream housing is accessible to non-statutory homeless people. Build suitable permanent schemes for those with ongoing support needs
- Track progress: Conduct a detailed street count in every area. Measure numbers and outcomes for the non-statutory homeless population.
Show your support
- Ending rough sleeping is just the first step - sign our online petition to end homelessness forever!
- Join our facebook group - Join in the discussion, give your opinion and share your experiences
Attend one of our regional seminars
Homeless Link is hosting a series of Communities Ending Rough Sleeping Regional Seminars about the new rough sleeping strategy in January and February 2009. There will be one seminar held in each English region. For further information and to book your place visit the regional seminars page.
New Rough Sleeping Portal
The portal is a tool for local authorities, voluntary sector agencies and others wishing to end rough sleeping. It contains information on strategic ways of working, good practice case studies from the sector and related research. The portal will be regularly updated with latest policies, strategies and ways of working to support those targeting the end of rough sleeping.