On Monday 20th July, Andy Burnham became the next Prime Minister for the United Kingdom.
Since coming into power, Andy Burnham has established his first priority in government as seeing an end to rough sleeping, aiming with his leadership to bring hope back to Britain. We've written to him with four key housing solutions that will help make sure the new Prime Minister keeps young people at the heart of his agenda.
Will you sign our open letter calling for the Prime Minister to fix housing for homeless young people?
Dear Prime Minister Andy Burnham,
Congratulations on becoming the next Prime Minister for the United Kingdom.
"We did it then, we can do it now."
You started your first day in office on a high – by pledging to end rough sleeping as your first priority. It sends a clear signal that homelessness in all its forms can, and should, be stopped.
Already you are building faith again amongst those that want to end youth homelessness, as you've shown us you care. By visiting the Passage, a place where people can find emergency housing, you've shown us that you want to truly hear the needs of those living the reality of homelessness.
In your speech on the 30th June, you mentioned that “everything starts with a good home and a council home is a secure home that was the foundation for everything”.
That’s exactly what we think as well.
For a young person, a home can mean the difference between surviving and thriving, between being stuck and stepping forward.
Centrepoint research found that, if no-one else joined, it would take over six years to clear the waiting list of young households to access social housing – that's over 130,000 young households stuck in a broken system.
Every day, systems across the country are failing young people. Largely due to ignoring preventable measures and under investment in housing. We want to stop the flow of people becoming homeless and having to sleep rough in the first place.
Please keep young people at the heart of your policy changes. We’ve got four key solutions we know will help you successfully meet your first aims:
- Increase the availability of one-bedroom social homes to improve access to suitable and affordable housing options for young people.
- Support Stepping Stone homes as a launchpad into independent living for young people, by recognising it as an affordable housing product
- Limit time spent in unsupported temporary accommodation to under a year
- Roll out of schools-based homelessness prevention models
We want to join you to make sure everyone has a secure roof over their head, and where no young person is left behind or written off. Let's bring back hope.
You can make sure every young person has the foundation they need to build a future.
Signed:
