Homelessness charity encouraged by Burnham record tackling crisis
New PM Andy Burnham has vowed to end rough sleeping in the UK
A leading rough sleeper charity, based in Salisbury, says it's encouraged by Andy Burnham's track record of tackling homelessness, as the Makerfield MP continues his first week in charge of the country.
Before stepping into Downing Street on Monday, the new Prime Minister vowed to end rough sleeping in the UK.
Andrew Lord, CEO of Alabaré, said the signs are promising.
"The fact that he's on track record and interest in this area is really good news," he said. "To end homelessness, we have to do 2 things. We have to increase the number of houses, flats, accommodation that's available for people on those housing waiting lists, those who are rough sleeping, and then secondly, have the appropriate support for those people as well."
A report by the Institute of Public Policy Research warned that the rough sleeper crisis would deepen without intervention, suggesting it would rise by 25%.
It followed Mr Burnham's call for a "national housing first" policy, and suggested that vacant homes could be turned into sanctuaries for the vulnerable.
Andrew agreed with this idea, but said questions must be asked first, because it's not simply a case of saying that an empty house is available.
"We have to ask ourselves, why are those homes empty in the first place? Is it because it's a second home that's not being used? Is it a house that is on the market for sale? Is it a house that's in poor condition? Is it in a poor area?" he said.
Andrew said it is possible that homelessness could be ended, saying that the Covid pandemic showed that.
"We got everybody in, it is possible with agencies, Government and charities coming together. Can he create that same sense of emergency again so we call come together to get rough sleepers off the streets and into some form of accommodation," he told us, adding that the Government needed to follow through on the commitment of 1.5 million homes during the lifetime of this parliament, calling for it to be "re-energised" so there is a better supply of houses for people to move in to.