Rough sleeping is a serious issue, stop anti homeless infrastructure preventing homeless people staying in safer areas of the city centers, rough sleeping is already hard enough with the government making it harder and more dangerous!

Unnecessary evictions are the number 1 cause of homelessness, end this practice and reduce the homeless issue.

Open discrimination towards people on benefits is actively taking place across the country regarding housing availability. Recent studies show that over the last five years, 1/3 of people receiving housing benefits haven't been able to rent a home due to a 'No DSS' policy. There are over 1 million private renting households in England who receive housing benefit, meaning that hundreds of thousands of people have most likely faced this type of discrimination. In an expanding and competitive lettings market, far too many renters are being locked out of finding a home due to prejudice fronted by 'No DSS' policies employed by lettings agents and landlords.

Many Norwich residents are facing hardship, and needs are going unmet as shown in this recent report in the Eastern Evening News https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/crime/goldwell-square-goldwell-road-norwich-drug-dealing-and-use-problems-1-6646431. On top of deep cuts in government funding following years of austerity, the City Council has seen a huge loss of income due to Covid-19, and now says it is looking into a financial black hole. The funds intended for the expansion of facilities for tennis players would be far more justly spent on addressing urgent everyday needs such as accommodation for the homeless, community safety measures and more children's play areas.

The housing secretary has claimed that more than 90% of rough sleepers have been housed during the coronavirus pandemic, therefore demonstrating that the accommodation, resources and funding are available to significantly reduce rough sleeping and homelessness. It is not acceptable to tell these people to go back and live on the streets after the pandemic is over as evidently, there is accommodation available. Thus this housing must be made permanently available to house the homeless.

The Homelessness Reduction Act (2017) gave new duties and roles to local housing authorities to prevent homelessness experiences from ever happening in the first place. In addition councils must support people out of homelessness, whether classed as 'priority need' or not. (Haringey Council, 2019) Following the introduction of the Act, £72 million was given to local councils by the government, to be used in combatting homelessness (Barton and Wilson, 2020) This funding runs out in 2020 and there is no indication that it will be renewed. (Butler, 2019) Given that the new role of local authorities to prevent homelessness is already being neglected by some as they don't have the fund to implement it (Geraghty, 2018), the renewal of this funding is even more important to encourage more local authorities to take responsibility and engage with the program.

The number of government funded social housing has fallen by 97% since 2010 with over 120,000 social homes lost between 2012 and 2016. (Kentish, 2017) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/social-housing-government-funded-properties-rent-falls-97-per-cent-study-homes-communities-agency-a7799116.html Councils only replace less than a third of homes sold under the 'Right to Buy Scheme' and without a flow of new homes, the proposed benefits of the scheme will never be experienced by future generations. (McKay, 2018) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jun/11/councils-able-to-replace-one-third-homes-sold-under-right-to-buy Many social housing properties are being sold to former landlords. These landlords are increasing rent prices, meaning that some people are unable to pay the rent of even the most basic formerly council-owned property. (Savage, 2019) https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/19/ministers-urged-halt-right-buy-council-homes-rented

Raising the age important because they are still young and with their lives ahead of them, we shouldn't be turning our backs on them we should be supporting them now so that they can have better lives later on. Abolishing the 'under 21 and having been in care' criteria is important because, whilst these former children of care are incredibly vulnerable and need extensive support, so do all young homeless people. Each case is different with some young people experience abusive and violent home environments that cause homelessness, yet it was never reported and thus care support was never received.

This is a matter concerning us all. No one wants to let their loved ones go without the chance of a proper physical goodbye. Signing this petition will highlight the matter to the higher and concerned authorities. Losing someone close without being informed can only make this depressing situation even more lonely. We don't want that. Let's all be in this together.

This is extremely important, especially during a pandemic because we have been asked to self-isolate, to stay inside, to protect ourselves and others. So it would only be right while there is multiple accommodation around the country free from public use, to put it to good use - for someone in need.

Because black lives matter and the UK’s eyes need to be opened

Reduce rates of homelessness among refugees and reduce rates of mental heath problems among refugees