Burnley MP Oliver Ryan welcomes new strategy to end homelessness across the North West

The Government is investing around £100m. of additional funding in the region as part of its National Plan to End Homelessness.

It aims to halve the number of long-term rough sleepers, end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families, and prevent more households from becoming homeless by the end of this parliament.

Goals include a duty on public services to work together to prevent homelessness, a boost to the supply of good-quality temporary homes, and £3.5b. nationally to support rough sleeping and support services.

Oliver Ryan MP said the Labour Government is taking the action needed to end the “moral stain of homelessness”.

“Ending homelessness requires seriousness, leadership, and sustained investment – and that is exactly what this plan delivers. With around £100m. of extra funding for the North West alone, this strategy puts prevention first and ensures people get the support they need to rebuild their lives.

“This is a government that is matching its ambition with resources. I’m proud to see action being taken to tackle homelessness head-on and to create lasting change for vulnerable people across the North West. Under this Labour Government, there will be no more forgotten people.”

Welcoming the strategy, Emma Haddad, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, said: “The homelessness strategy published today is a watershed moment and is strongly welcomed by St Mungo’s.”

Meanwhile, Blabir Kaur Chatrik, Director of Policy and Prevention at Centrepoint, added: “We have seen record levels of youth homelessness, so it’s very welcome to see the Government looking at young people specifically.”