By Alessandra Sciarra, Head of Policy and Public Affairs
“Today the Prime Minister delivered his speech at the Labour Party Conference.
We welcome his continued focus on tackling homelessness. In his speech today he spoke about the importance of home and about his commitment to getting people off the street by Christmas.
He also spoke about the need to offer a permanent solution for people experiencing homelessness to help them rebuild their lives.
The Prime Minister spoke about how a good home can open up possibilities. For a young person, it can mean sleeping safely, staying in education or work, looking after their health and beginning to imagine a more positive future.
To make that hope real, we must act before a young person reaches the streets. That means investing in prevention and early intervention; working with schools to give them the knowledge and guidance to support young people at risk and providing somewhere safe to stay when home is no longer an option.
Having a safe home is key, but it cannot be the end of the journey. Young people need support to find a suitable home and the help to keep it. That takes sustained investment in prevention, supported services and affordable housing.
Depaul UK stands ready to work with the Government so fewer young people become homeless, and those who do have the support to move forward.”