Government accused of doing ‘absolutely nothing’ to tackle homelessness

By The Press Association10th November 2015News EnglandGovernment / Politics, Homelessness, Housing / Homelessness, News England, Norfolk

A Labour MP has accused the Government of doing “absolutely nothing” to tackle the “disgrace” of increasing homelessness and rough sleeping in the UK.

Clive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South, blasted ministers on the issue as he told the House of Commons of a case from his own constituency where a rough sleeper died on the streets.

He said: “Across the UK, homelessness has increased by more than a third in the past five years and in my own home city of Norwich it has doubled in the past year alone with devastating consequences for one rough sleeper, known locally as Sergio, who was found dead on the streets of my city a couple of months ago.

“Can the minister tell us why there is absolutely nothing in the new Housing and Planning Bill that tackles this disgrace?”

But Local Government Minister Marcus Jones defended the Government’s record.

He said: “I can reassure you that this Government is absolutely committed to helping rough sleepers off the streets.

“No Second Night Out scheme that this Government has supported is delivering that.

“The other thing that we are doing is funding the world’s first homelessness social impact bond which is reaching 830 entrenched rough sleepers in London and getting those people who have been rough sleeping for considerable time off the streets and into accommodation.”