I have shared details of this petition with members of the Rough Sleeping Advisory Panel (England) and the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Group (HARSAG; Scotland). Of them, one has signed, and six have sent supportive messages. Five MPs have also contacted me. They agree that it is the right time to be planning for the end of rough sleeping. On a practical level, these dozen leaders repeatedly speak on three themes:

1.       The Housing First model is a tried-and-tested way to quickly end street homelessness. Housing First or ‘rapid rehousing’ systems recognise that safe accommodation is a life-sustaining resource which should not be withheld before certain conditions are met.

2.       The ‘priority need’ system is no longer fit for purpose. This is the legal test which says that a rough sleeper does not get Government help unless they are less able to cope with living on the street than others (whatever that means).

3.       A ‘pathways approach’ is the most humane. Another way of putting this is that homeless people deserve to be treated as individuals. It is surprising that this even needs to be said in the 21st century, but it is a sign of how far there is to go. Consider, for example, that a teenager leaving care might need different help to avoid homelessness than, say, an NHS cleaner evicted from their house-share, with a few days’ notice.

The main point is that the knowledge is there. Thanks to the work of talented professionals over the last five decades, we know a lot about how to end homelessness; and even to prevent it. What is keenly needed now is the will and funding from our leaders to make it happen. The rough sleepers of today cannot wait until our country’s housing sector is reformed. The rough sleepers of tomorrow should feel confident that they will be helped back on their feet.

The Senedd have been discussing how to extend support for rough sleepers - street homelessness is not inevitable. The Scottish Government has reconvened HARSAG (as above).

But there is still no commitment from Westminster to extend support for *all* rough sleepers in England. As things stand, many rough sleepers will continue to miss out on assistance.

Please continue to share this petition’s link.