A Response to the Home Secretary

Over the weekend, many of you may have read or heard the recent comments made by Home Secretary Suella Braverman regarding the criminalisation of the use of tents by those sleeping rough.

In her statement, the Home Secretary states that sleeping on the streets is a lifestyle choice. We at Signposts find this comment to be unethical and dangerous. For our Home Secretary to make such a statement only goes to highlight the lack of understanding and empathy towards the UK's homeless community.

As a charity with nearly 40 years of experience supporting people off the streets and into independent living, we wholeheartedly agree with the statement released by Crisis and signed by multiple homeless agencies.

To quote Crisis, "Sleeping on the street is not a lifestyle choice. Laying blame on people forced to sleep rough will only push them further away from help into poverty, putting them at risk of exploitation. At the extreme end, we will see an increase in deaths and fatalities which are totally preventable."

In our social media feed this week, we are highlighting the launch of Homeless Link's manifesto for the next general election, which is widely expected to be in October 2024, if not sooner.

They are asking all political parties to commit to:

  • Building 90,000 social homes a year

  • Unfreezing and restoring the LHA rate, so private renting is affordable

  • Collaborating across all departments of government

  • Embedding trauma-informed care in their homelessness strategy

  • Introducing a long-term, ringfenced support fund for homelessness

We at Signposts endorse both Crisis and Homeless Link's statements.

Tim Archbold
CEO, Signposts

Paul Kellett