In October 2020, the APPG launched its inquiry into how the Government should expand Housing First services across England.

Throughout the inquiry, the APPG placed the testimony of those with direct experience of homelessness at the forefront of its analysis. We heard from people with lived experience of Housing First services at four inquiry evidence sessions and ran a written consultation process inviting individuals with significant and prolonged experience of homelessness who have used Housing First services to share their experiences.

In addition to this, the APPG held an online focus group with a small group of people who have used Housing First services in Greater Manchester to share their views on Housing First.

The APPG also received over 30 individual case studies in another written consultation from organisations that are on the frontline of delivering Housing First.

At the APPG’s four inquiry evidence sessions members also heard from world-leading authorities on Housing First, including the founder of the model Dr Sam Tsemberis, Juha Kaakinen; the CEO of the world-renowned Y Foundation in Finland, and Samara Jones from Housing First Europe Hub.

We heard from senior politicians leading the Housing First pilots across England - Andy Street; Mayor of West Midlands Combined Authority, Andy Burnham; Mayor of Greater Manchester and Steve Rotheram; Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, as well as several providers of Housing First across Great Britain.

In total of over 25 organisations and 65 individuals submitted either oral or written evidence to the inquiry. We would like to thank all these individuals and organisations for their time and testimonies.

Following our inquiry we will be launching a report with recommendations on 20 July, between 10.30-11.30am. If you would like to RSVP, please contacts us.

Links

To read our call for evidence for written evidence from people who have been homeless and have direct experience of using Housing First services (now closed), please click here.

To read the minutes from our inquiry evidence sessions, please click here.