Campaigners meet MPs to call for action on homelessness

Hundreds of campaigners, many with experience of homelessness, will be meeting their MPs in Westminster today to ask them to support the Homelessness Reduction Bill during a crucial parliamentary debate on October 28.

So far a total of 65 MP meetings have been confirmed as part of a mass lobby organised by Crisis.

Proposed by Bob Blackman MP and supported by homelessness charities including Crisis, the Homeless Reduction Bill could transform the help available to homeless people. However, if fewer than 100 MPs attend the debate, the bill could easily be blocked, making support from MPs critical. 

Homelessness is rising, yet, the law as it stands means that homeless people who approach their council for help can be turned away to sleep on the street. If passed, the new law would help to prevent people from losing their home in the first place and make sure all homeless people can get help when they need it, whilst continuing to protect families with children from homelessness.

Crisis Chief Executive Jon Sparkes said: “MPs from across the political spectrum are coming together to support this important bill. If passed it could be one of the most important things to happen to homelessness in nearly 40 years. The Bill is a major opportunity to improve the rights of people currently shut out of the system, whist continuing to protect families with children from homelessness. We must seize this historic opportunity.”