Housing Justice News Release 8 September 2006
For immediate release
Housing Justice calls on government to tackle Polish street homelessness
Christian homelessness charity Housing Justice today called on the British and Polish governments to work together to solve the problem of homeless Polish and Eastern European migrants in Britain.
The call came as Housing Justice and the Simon Community this week welcomed the visit of the Polish-British Mission for Employment to the UK led by Polish charity the Barka Foundation. The Mission, which includes representatives of the Polish government, is visiting London to find out first hand about the problem of homelessness among Polish and Eastern European migrants.
The Mission will hold a press conference on Monday 11 September to outline their findings. Meetings are also taking place with the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales and several agencies working to provide support to homeless people in London.
Alastair Murray of Housing Justice commented “We and the Simon Community have arranged a full programme of visits for the Mission to show the reality of life for Polish and other Eastern Europeans who have become homeless in this country. Sadly the problem of homelessness is increasing among this group and services are struggling to cope."
“This situation needs to be tackled by the Polish and British governments and the European Union working together as a matter of urgency. We have compiled a three point strategy to resolve the problem. Information, advice and support are the keys to preventing and dealing with homelessness among Polish people and other Eastern Europeans.”
Housing Justice believes that the problem of homelessness should be tackled in three ways:
1. A comprehensive advertising campaign in Poland to warn Polish citizens not to come to the UK without the means to support themselves until they start work. Polish citizens should also be warned to treat with caution third parties who demand fees and the handing over of papers for help in finding or registering for employment and accommodation as in many cases these fail to materialise.
2. The establishment of a Welcome Centre near to Victoria Coach Station to provide advice and help to people on arrival in their own languages. The Centre should also offer assistance with registering on the Workers’ Registration Scheme and in obtaining a National Insurance Number.
3. The establishment of a shelter to work with homeless Polish and other EU citizens to help them off the streets. The shelter should begin to address issues such as drug and alcohol dependency that may be factors in individuals’ homelessness. Longer term, help will be required with reintegration into Polish society -perhaps into Barka communities- if people wish to return to Poland.
We call on our respective governments and the EU to respond to these needs as a matter of urgency.
Ends
A Press Conference will be held at Westminster City Hall, London SW1 at 11.00am on Monday 11 September 2006. Further information on the Press Conference is available from Housing Justice.
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