Campaign to include people shut out of the political process
Homeless targeted to vote in general election
Homelessness charities are to launch a nationwide campaign to encourage homeless people to vote in this year’s general election.
The Electoral Commission has teamed up with Homeless Link and will send information to 2,440 hostels, shelters and bed and breakfasts in a bid to make homeless people more aware of their voting rights. There are 154 day centres in the UK with an average of 54 users per centre every day.
St Mungo’s will raise the issue with homeless people in all of its 50 hostels and supported housing projects. It would like to see a homeless person stand as a councillor in the future and hopes its awareness campaign will mark the first step of the way.
It will hold a hustings event in one of its hostels ahead of the national vote, expected in May.
Jenny Edwards, chief executive of Homeless Link, said it is crucial homeless people ‘use their political voice to influence the environment in which they live and the services they use’.
Mike McCall, executive director of operations at St Mungo’s, said that it wanted to find ways to help its clients connect more closely with the communities in which they live.
A spokesperson for the charity confirmed the idea of a homeless person standing as a councillor had been mooted ‘and that these are the steps to that - engaging people in local politics in their area’.
‘[At the moment] we are trying to raise the bar a bit,’ she added.
The posters from the Electoral Commission and Homeless Link will state it is not necessary to have a permanent address to vote.
Homeless people can use their temporary address or complete a ‘declaration of local connection’ form.
Paul Johnson, a former rough sleeper who now manages a bar and volunteers for St Mungo’s, said it was a common misconception that voters ‘need to have an address and it’s all geared to people who have a nine to five job’.
He added: ‘If you are sleeping in a shop window it [voting] is not really high on your agenda and you are more concerned about your existence from day to day rather than the need to have a say.
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Readers' comments (4)
Peter | 25/01/2010 1:08 pm
Voting is not really high most people's agenda whether they have an address, a job or successful!
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Melvin Bone | 25/01/2010 1:15 pm
Which political parties are after the homeless vote?
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Abalondon | 03/02/2010 11:04 am
Why targeting vulnerable people vote, if they are capable of voting they will go and vote because the all have voters card - why forcing them to vote? 'Homeless people developing homelessness issues in homeless people hostel - no place call home for homeless people.' Comment from a book: CIVILISED SOCIETY by Ambrose Onyekwere. We are in civilised society, homeless people are among civilised British society, if they are well in health, they will go and vote, do not force them to vote charity organisation because they live in you project. If homeless people refused support we can force them to have a support, we can force them to vote - they have right
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Jane | 03/02/2010 7:26 pm
This seems a bit naive. Homeless people's voices are very rarely heard - how many homeless people are registered to vote, and how can they easily make it a priority to sort out? It's a complete hassle to work through this on top of being homeless. I worked with homeless people and families waiting to be rehoused for around 20 years and I don't remember a single one of them ever voting. We certainly never received voting cards for them in the hostels and reception centres. Sorting out registration alone is too much to handle on top of constant moving around, having to manage in miserable conditions (particularly those with kids) with no money, often too afraid to go out for so many reasons etc. Surely just as many homeless people would want to vote as those with housing - why wouldn't they? Politicians badly need to hear and understand marginalised people's views and experiences. It isn't as easy for homeless people to vote as most people, that's all. If we can make that easier for all vulnerable people, not nec just homeless, then at least they have the same choice as everyone to do with it what they will. Seems fair to me.
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