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The Homes for Cathy group is calling on housing associations to sign up to nine commitments that could make a “major impact” on homelessness, explains David Bogle
There is a homelessness crisis going on. At the last count there were almost 160,000 homeless households in Great Britain, including more than 9,000 people rough sleeping and 42,000 in emergency accommodation.
Housing associations must do more, much more to reduce these numbers – that is the central message of the Homes for Cathy group of housing associations.
That is why, working with housing charity Crisis, the Homes for Cathy group has come up with nine commitments which we are asking our members to achieve and which we believe could make a real major impact on homelessness. These are:
Many of these commitments are challenging.
Our hard-working housing management staff will be throwing their hands up at some of them.
We are calling them ‘aspirational’. We are suggesting that they be used as a tool to develop policies and practices.
To deliver the nine commitments, most housing associations will need to find more resources. But housing associations have resources.
Although many housing associations have been providing excellent homes and services for homeless people for decades, it is plainly not enough.
Yet the relief of homelessness has to be central to our social purpose.
So can we accept an ongoing responsibility for the families whose tenancy has failed so as to ensure that they are not evicted into homelessness?
“The relief of homelessness has to be central to our social purpose.”
Can we provide furniture, curtains and carpets for those homeless people who we house who cannot provide them themselves?
Can we do more for those homeless people who we turn down because they don’t meet the qualifications for our homes?
Can we build or acquire more homes for homeless people?
Can we make a real impact on rough sleeping by working with local authorities to provide some homes for migrant workers even where they have no recourse to public funds?
For most housing associations, the answer to these questions must be “yes, we can” – if there is sufficient will and sufficient resources are allocated.
We owe it to the tens of thousands of homeless families and rough sleepers to step up our efforts.
These nine Homes for Cathy commitments are a starting point.
David Bogle, chief executive, Hightown Housing Association
Our Cathy at 50 campaign calls on councils to explore Housing First as a default option for long-term rough sleepers and commission Housing First schemes, housing associations to identify additional stock for Housing First schemes and government to support five Housing First projects, collect evidence and distribute best practice.