Responding to Theresa May's announcement of a new programme of house building, Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said:

“This announcement from the Government can’t come soon enough, particularly for the hundreds of thousands of people facing homelessness right across the country.

“For years, our steady decline of social housing and ever increasing private renting costs has left many with no place to call home, and many more finding themselves on the verge of homelessness. With social housing dropping by half in the last 40 years, we can’t afford to carry on like this.

“It’s time we come together as a nation to recognise that homelessness is not inevitable, and this is a step in the right direction. For this initiative to be successful, we need to ensure enough homes are built to truly address our homelessness crisis, and to ensure people in the most vulnerable circumstances have access to them. We’re ready to work with the Government to make this work for everyone who needs it most.”

ENDS

For further information or spokesperson interview please call the Crisis media team on 0207 426 3880 or email simon.trevethick@crisis.org.uk

For out of hours media enquiries please call: 07973 372587

Notes to editors

Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people. Our purpose is to end homelessness.

Homelessness is devastating, leaving people vulnerable and isolated. We believe everyone deserves a place to call home and the chance to live a fulfilled and active life.

Crisis helps people rebuild their lives through housing, health, education and employment services. We work with thousands of homeless people across the UK and have ambitious plans to work with many more. We currently offer services in Birmingham, Coventry, Edinburgh, London, Merseyside, Newcastle, Oxford and South Yorkshire 

We are also determined campaigners, working to prevent people from becoming homeless and to change the way society and government thinks and acts towards homeless people.