WIREDGOV

Homelessness charities are welcoming the European Parliament’s call for urgent action from Member States and the EU executive agencies to end street homelessness by 2015. A majority of MEPs representing all EU countries and across the political spectrum have signed a Written Declaration on ending street homelessness by 2015. It is unusual for a Written Declaration to receive majority support and become parliamentary policy.

Jenny Edwards, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, was involved in the launch of the campaign for the European Parliament to take this step. She welcomed the announcement saying: “There is no place for rough sleeping in a twenty first century Europe. Now that the European Parliament has shown its clear backing for ridding Europe of this social injustice, the Council of Ministers and Commission should act to ensure there is an action plan in place in each country and annual reports of progress towards the goal of 2015.

Many actions will need to be national, but the particular issue of the homelessness of people moving within Europe to work needs to be addressed at a European level to ensure that no European citizen is left without social protection as a result of moving to work elsewhere within the European Community

This initiative will give extra impetus to our government’s renewed ambition end rough sleeping. Much progress has been made here already and we are seen as a good practice model internationally. Now is the time for us to show the best way to end rough sleeping completely and to lead the rest of Europe to this goal.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. About Homeless Link

Homeless Link is the national membership organisation for frontline homelessness agencies in England. Our mission is to be a catalyst that will help to bring an end to homelessness. Our two goals are:

o To raise standards in the services that support homeless people and tackle homelessness o To influence the development of policy, strategy and investment at all levels of government.

Homeless Link’s member organisations provide services through: hostels, day centres, outreach and resettlement agencies, housing advice centres, youth projects, health projects, welfare rights groups, regional and sub-regional homelessness networks, refuges, drug and alcohol services and church groups. www.homeless.org.uk www.endhomelessness.org.uk

2. About the Written Declaration

The Written Declaration 111/2007 on ending street homelessness sends out a clear political message that the issue of homelessness is an urgent one across Europe and must be tackled in a determined and focused way. The Declaration further calls on the development of a European framework definition of homelessness, the gathering of reliable statistical data, and the elaboration of ‘winter emergency plans’ as part of a wider homelessness strategy. London MEP Claude Moraes was one of the original sponsors of the declaration, which was launched with backing from members of all the main political groupings in Europe.

3. About FEANTSA

FEANTSA believes that the adoption of the Declaration is an important step in the fight against homelessness. FEANTSA is the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless. Established in 1989, FEANTSA represents today more than 100 organisations working with people experiencing homelessness in 30 European countries, which provide a wide range of services to people experiencing homelessness, including housing, health and employment support. More information is available on: www.feantsa.org

Further information If you would like more information on the research or on Homeless Link or if you would like a more detailed conversation about the relevance of this announcement to homelessness strategy, please contact: Gill Perkins, Head of Communications at Homeless Link on 020 7960 3025 or 07881 921476 gill.perkins@homelesslink.org.uk Homeless Link First Floor 10-13 Rushworth Street London SE1 0RB