Cathy Come Home director brands UK homelessness ‘disgrace’

By The Press Association18th March 2015News EnglandHomelessness, Housing / Homelessness, News England

Britain’s housing crisis is worse now than a half century ago when the issue was thrust into the limelight by a gritty TV play, its director Ken Loach warned.

The veteran film-maker said the situation British families still found themselves in, generations after 1966’s seminal Cathy Come Home, was “a disgrace”.

He received a rapturous reception at a rally which brought thousands of campaigners to London to demand action on the issue.

A string of leading politicians received more muted applause as they set out competing general election manifesto packages to ease shortages.

The Homes For Britain event sought pledges that whoever formed the next government would deliver a long-term plan within a year to resolve the crisis before another generation passes.

“When Cathy Come Home was made, homelessness was a major issue. Husbands were separated from their families because they had no home, there was terrible poverty accommodation, it was a horror story,” Loach told the rally.

“It is much worse now, much worse now. 93,000 kids homeless. What a disgrace in this rich country.

“Tens of thousands of families have their lives in chaos and the politicians who are speaking have allowed it to happen.”