PAUL HOLMES MP BACKS SHELTER'S STREET HOMELESSNESS CAMPAIGN

12.00.00am GMT Wed 19th Dec 2007

Paul signs up to help Shelter's campaign against homelessness

Paul Holmes MP this week added his support to Shelter's campaign to highlight the plight of homeless people this Christmas.

A new report from the housing and homelessness charity shows the Government still has a long way to go to solve the problems faced by people forced to sleep rough or stay in homeless hostels.

Despite setting up the Rough Sleepers Unit 10 years ago, the report shows the Government still does not provide enough specialist help, hostel places or 'move on' accommodation. This means many people remain trapped in unsuitable hostels without access to the support they need to turn their lives around.

The report gives 10 recommendations for the Government to help street homeless people including increased support and outreach work; more hostel beds and better standards; and more social housing so that more people can be offered suitable move on accommodation.

Welcoming the campaign at a launch in the House of Commons, Paul Holmes MP said:

"I am pleased to back Shelter's campaign to highlight the plight of homeless people in Chesterfield this Christmas. The desperate days of cardboard city might be a thing of the past. But dealing with homelessness is not just about putting a roof over someone's head. People need support and advice to deal with their problems. And most of all, they need decent and affordable accommodation to 'move on' to."

Paul Holmes added, "A key recommendation of Shelter's report is that more social housing to rent must be built.

"Crocodile tears from Labour and Conservative politicians cut no ice on this issue. Boris Johnson as Tory candidate for London Mayor wants to scrap affordable housing requirements and speaks of social housing to rent only in disparaging terms. The Conservatives in Government slashed funding for Council Housing and sold them off at giveaway prices.

"Labour finished the job in the last 10 years, with only 300 Council houses being built last year -the lowest figure since before World War One. National waiting lists have soared from one million in 1997 to 1.63 million today. Yvette Cooper's recent instructions for Councils to 'house the homeless, offer choice based lettings, move OAP's into bungalows and house ex armed forces personnel' are utterly meaningless until her Government's disastrous housing policies are reversed."

Thanking Paul Holmes MP, Shelter Chief Executive, Adam Sampson said:

"While real progress has been made in helping homeless people over the past ten years, lots more needs doing. That is why Shelter is delighted Paul Holmes MP has signed up to Shelter's Christmas campaign to persuade Government Ministers to expand support services, improve access to hostel spaces, and increase decent move-on accommodation. That support could be crucial in ensuring homeless people in Chesterfield get a better deal by next Christmas."