Today the Government announced its support for the Homelessness Reduction Bill - a private member's bill put forward by Bob Blackman MP. The bill is due for its second reading on Friday 28 October but unless at least 100 MPs are in attendance on the day, it could easily be blocked or talked out.

The announcement comes as new research from Crisis shows how preventing 40,000 people from becoming homeless could save as much as £370m a year, or just over £9,000 per person per year (see notes).

Responding, Crisis Chief Executive Jon Sparkes said: “In backing Bob Blackman’s Homelessness Reduction Bill, the government has shown its continued determination to tackle homelessness. I am also grateful for the personal tenacity and commitment shown by DCLG Ministers in helping get to this important milestone.

“While we warmly welcome today’s announcement, there remains a real risk that unless MPs offer their support at the bill’s second reading on Friday, this historic opportunity could easily be lost.  

“This is a credible and much-needed piece of legislation which now has the backing of the Government, the opposition and the Communities and Local Government Select Committee. The cross-party consensus is there, and we hope that MPs from across the political spectrum will come together on October 28 to vote on the bill.

“Helping people to stay off the streets and rebuild their lives is about basic social justice – it’s the right thing to do – but it also makes good economic sense. New research from Crisis has revealed how preventing 40,000 people from becoming homelessness could save the public purse up to £370m a year, or just over £9,000 per year for every person helped. The logic is clear: preventing homelessness saves lives, but also reduces public costs.

“For 40 years we’ve had a system that fails too many homeless people and turns them away at their time of need. The Homelessness Reduction Bill could help put an end to that injustice once and for all. It is a major opportunity to improve the rights of people currently shut out of the system, whist continuing to protect families with children.”  

ENDS

For further information or for spokesperson interviews call 020 7426 3853 or email thomas.phillips@crisis.org.uk For out of hours media enquiries please call: 07973 372587

 

Notes to editors

• Crisis commissioned Nicholas Pleace at the University of York and Prof Dennis P. Culhane at the University of Pennsylvania to examine the financial implications of extending homelessness prevention services in England.  The research asked 86 people who had been homeless for at least 90 days about the services they had used. The fall in public spending is based on the average estimated reduction of £9,266 per person per year.