WHC's call to MP candidates: stop homelessness before it starts

Next winter will see the return of Wycombe Homeless Connection’s night shelter.

For four years our shelter was not needed, but the number of people rough sleeping is growing. Without our shelter, people will be forced to sleep outside in the bleakest months. We know that with the support of our community, the shelter will, once again, save lives.

But we shouldn’t have to be doing this. No one should be without a home, let alone be left to sleep on the street in the winter.

Recent government efforts to end rough sleeping have been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis. But the fact is, the actions taken in order to end rough sleeping by 2024 have failed.

Homelessness wrecks people’s mental and physical health, tears families apart and causes life-long trauma. People who suffer street homelessness die, on average, decades before those who have a home. Once a person has become homeless, they’re at far higher risk of it happening again. If we only wait until people are sleeping rough on our streets before offering help, they have suffered preventable harm.

And alongside the human cost, managing homelessness once it has happened is around 10 times more expensive to the local economy than preventing it. Wycombe Homeless Connection can prevent a family from becoming homeless for around £3,000. To provide temporary accommodation and support to a household that has become homeless costs approximately £30,000 a year.

Change is possible.

The general election on 4th July presents an opportunity for local voters to speak to candidates and to use their vote to end homelessness.

Join us in calling for the introduction of a national homelessness prevention strategy that :

  • Ensures everyone has access to independent advice and support before they become homeless in order to avoid it in the first place.
  • Includes a plan to deliver the 90,000 social homes per year which are needed.
  • Gets all government departments working together to prevent homelessness, instead of working at cross purposes, wasting time and money.

Please talk to candidates about this and consider their responses when you vote.

If you would like to speak to our CEO, James Boultbee, about our call to candidates, contact us on 01494 447699, contact@wyhoc.org.uk or via our website www.wyhoc.org.uk.

If you want to find out more about our winter night shelter, and offer your support click here.