Housing Justice News Release 14 March 2006
For immediate release
Housing Justice welcomes fall in homelessness
Housing Justice today welcomed the fall in homelessness shown by the latest government Statutory Homelessness figures and the commitment given by Housing Minister Yvette Cooper to continue to reduce the numbers of families in temporary accommodation.
The latest government figures, released on Monday, show a 27% fall in the number of homeless families accepted for re-housing under the terms of the Homelessness legislation and a 2% fall in the number of families in temporary accommodation.
Housing Justice Chief Executive Robina Rafferty commented “We welcome the fall in the number of families living in temporary accommodation and Yvette Cooper’s continued emphasis on the government’s commitment to halve the numbers in temporary accommodation by 2010.”
“But we fear that the government will struggle to meet this commitment as it is putting off the construction of badly needed new social housing until the 2007 Government Spending Round. The homeless families seen by the network of Housing Justice housing advice centres need new housing now - not in 2007.”
Ends
Statutory Homelessness: 4th quarter 2005 Statistical Release was released on 13 March 2006 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, available at www.odpm.gov.uk
About Housing Justice
Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action to prevent
homelessness and bad housing.
Housing Justice was formed in April 2003 by the merger of two
long-standing housing charities, the Catholic Housing Aid Society (CHAS)
and the Churches National Housing Coalition (CNHC). In January 2006
Housing Justice merged with UNLEASH (Church Action on Homelessness in London). Housing Justice brings together more than 60 years experience of working for change in the field of housing.
Housing Justice provides frontline services to people in housing need
and campaigns to improve housing policy. In total Housing Justice is
actively involved in more than 35 communities across England and Wales.
The Housing Justice CHAS network of 12 housing advice centres provide
practical support to people with housing and related problems.
Housing Justice UNLEASH works to support church-based housing and
homelessness projects in London.
Housing Justice Regenerate, funded by the government's Civil Renewal
Unit, supports resident-led regeneration in 15 guide neighbourhoods
across the UK. Regenerate brings together residents who have transformed their estates with those who want to embark on the regeneration process to share learning and offer support.
Housing Justice works with Scottish Churches Housing Action to organise the annual Homelessness Sunday, a day when churches are encouraged to reflect on the problems of homelessness and bad housing. Homelessness Sunday will be held on Sunday 28 January 2007.
Housing Justice works with, and for, homeless and badly housed people of all denominations, and with those who have no religious beliefs. All our
services are offered to the whole community and, wherever possible, we
work in partnership with others who share our values, regardless of
religious beliefs.
Further information on Housing Justice is available at
www.housingjustice.org.uk
Contact
Luke Evans 020 7723 7273
email media@housingjustice.org.uk