Action Week 2011 Parliamentary Reception  

'Enough Room: is society big enough for homeless people?' - St Mungos Action Week report June 2011 - was launched at an event in the House of Commons on Tuesday 28 June.

Charles Fraser CBE (right), Chief Executive of St Mungo's, welcomed guests who included MPs and peers from the three main parties, local councillors, St Mungo's clients and volunteers, staff, supporters and representatives from the voluntary sector.

He urged the Government to take note of the report's recommendations, specifically its Inclusion Check List, which outlines ways in which homeless people can be more included within society. He said: "We believe that one of the essential foundation stones for tackling homelessness is the active and visible inclusion of homeless people themselves."

Richard (left), a member of St Mungo's client representative group Outside In, spoke about his experience of being homeless and how he passionately believed that homeless people are eager to be given the opportunity to contribute to local communities, and in the importance of volunteering.

Shadow Minister for Housing Alison Seabeck MP (right) welcomed the report and praised the work that St Mungo's does in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of society. She undertook to take the report back to other shadow ministerial colleagues to inform their work on homelessness.

Final speaker Jake Berry MP (left), Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Housing and Local Government, expressed both his and the Housing Minister's personal commitment to ending rough sleeping, and confirmed that he would be taking the Inclusion Check List to the cross-departmental Ministerial Working Group on tackling homelessness.

How you can help:

• Pledge your support for homeless people
• See which MPs and Councillors have already pledged their support
• Write to your MP and urge them to pledge to give homeless people a voice
• Support our Big Appeal and help more homeless people transform their lives for good