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The launch of the Draft Mayor’s Housing Strategy for London yesterday with its substantial references to homelessness and solutions to address the issues heralds a very significant move forward.
Jenny Edwards, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, the umbrella organisation for frontline homelessness agencies, said:

“We applaud the Mayor’s unequivocal backing for the goal of London becoming the first capital city in the world to end rough sleeping by 2012. We also welcome the plan to double the current levels of development of supported housing for London’s vulnerable citizens. These plans, together with the major increase in affordable homes, will make a major impact on London’s massive homelessness problem.”

We also welcome the Mayor’s strong support for solutions that will deliver move on accommodation for people leaving hostels, including Homeless Link’s Move On Protocol. He expects local authorities’ housing advice services and housing associations to play a greater role in solving this problem. This, together with many other practical proposals in the plan, will make a significant contribution to ending homelessness in our capital.”


NOTES TO EDITORS

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

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

Homeless Link’s member organisations provide services through: hostel, 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. For more information on the Draft Mayor’s Housing Strategy for London, visit:
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/housing/strategy/index.jsp  

Further information
If you would like more information on Homeless Link, to speak with a policy expert or details of case studies where front line homelessness organisations have worked jointly with other agencies to practically support the achievement of the Government’s target, please contact:

1. Homeless Link is the national membership organisation for frontline homelessness agencies in England and Wales. Our mission is to be a catalyst that will help to bring an end to homelessness. Our two goals are to: o Raise standards in the services that support homeless people and tackle homelessness o Influence the development of policy, strategy and investment at all levels of government. Homeless Link’s member organisations provide services through: hostel, 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.    2. For more information on the Draft Mayor’s Housing Strategy for London, visit:   If you would like more information on Homeless Link, to speak with a policy expert or details of case studies where front line homelessness organisations have worked jointly with other agencies to practically support the achievement of the Government’s target, please contact:

Gill Perkins, Head of Communications at Homeless Link on 020 7960 3025 or 07881 921476
gill.perkins@homelesslink.org.uk