Homeless share ideas with minister

23 July 2008

Homeless people using the services of charity Crisis have met Iain Wright MP to discuss their ideas about how to help people off the streets.

Mr Wright, who is Homelessness Minister, asked the former rough-sleepers about the best way to assist people into new homes and jobs.

Chief Executive of the charity Leslie Morphy said it was encouraging to see the minister talking to people who have experienced the problem first-hand, but added that "real measures" would be needed to drastically reduce the number of homeless people in the UK.

She blamed local authorities for much of the problem, saying "they are not obliged to offer material help to everybody who needs a home and people are still left with no option but to sleep rough - a scandalous situation in 21st century Britain".

Ms Morphy said Crisis saw a lot of rough sleepers who had not been given the help they needed regarding housing, benefits and assistance into work.

According to research from charity St Mungo's, 70 per cent of their hostel residents who were ready to return to independent accommodation were unable to find suitable lodgings in 2007-08.

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