Today, Kate Farrell, Director of Crisis Skylight Merseyside, has been announced as an independent homelessness advisor to Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham.

The news comes as rough sleeping figures across the city region continue to rise, with street count numbers tripling since 2010.

Kate has worked for Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, for seven years, leading our work in Merseyside to help thousands of people into stable housing and employment, and out of homelessness.

Metro Mayor Rotherham unveiled the first raft of Mayoral advisers on areas including mental health, higher education, voluntary and community sector, social housing growth and the natural environment, as well as homelessness. All will provide strategic support in driving Liverpool City Region forward over the next three years.

Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:

“We welcome the appointment of Kate Farrell as Mayoral Advisor on homelessness in the Liverpool City Region.

“Kate has a wealth of experience in tackling homelessness and has led our services in Merseyside since we first opened in 2011. The City Region has witnessed an increase in homelessness in recent years that demands new solutions and urgent political attention.

“We are delighted that alongside running Crisis’ transformational services in Merseyside Kate will assist Steve Rotherham in his efforts as Metro Mayor to end homelessness.”

Kate Farrell, Director of Crisis Skylight Merseyside, said:

“I was delighted to receive the invitation from Steve Rotherham to join his team of advisers. It fully demonstrates his commitment to ending homelessness in the city at a time when numbers of rough sleepers continue to rise.

“I look forward to working with Steve and his colleagues in driving forward positive change in the Liverpool City Region for the benefit of people across the region.”