30 June 2011
The Big Society should include homeless people, and homelessness charities allied with volunteering efforts will continue to play a big role, says Housing Minister Grant Shapps.
Mr Shapps MP was commenting during St Mungo's Action Week (27 June - 3 July), which is focusing on homeless people and society. A new report ‘Enough Room: is society big enough for homeless people?' highlights that homeless people see volunteering as an important way in which they can move from feeling ‘shunned', ‘excluded' and ‘out in the cold' to being active community members again, but expresses concerns about opportunities open to people and the effect of cuts on services. The charity is calling on both central and local government to adopt the report's recommendations, particularly its Inclusion Check List.
During the Action Week St Mungo's is asking MPs and the public to pledge to show their support for homeless people. A total of 19 MPs from the main three parties have already pledged to give homeless people a voice. 60 members of the public have newly signed up this week to become e-campaigners.
Prime Minister David Cameron has also sent a message of support.
Mr Shapps said:
"I would like to pay tribute to the work of St Mungo's, who have been crucial to the successes to date in tackling rough sleeping. Managing over 100 support projects in London; running the majority of hostels across the capital and helping more than 3,000 people a year access housing, health, skills and employment is no small feat.
"Your report "Enough room: Is society big enough for homeless people" strikes a chord. Quite rightly we want Big Society to include, not exclude, homeless people, and homelessness charities allied with volunteering efforts will continue to play a key role. The most successful action to tackle homelessness is rooted in local communities - local authorities working together with local community groups, charities and businesses. There are thousands of people up and down the country, working in local government and charities such as yours, helping people into a secure and stable home.
"The Big Society is an opportunity for everyone to get involved in playing a greater role in their community, giving them the chance to get on in life, and making our country a better place to live - and that includes offering homeless people the opportunities they need to develop new skills and be helped off the streets into a stable home.
"I'd like to see this week's Action Week be a celebration of those who are actively helping some of the most vulnerable in society, and a rallying call to others to get involved."
ENDS