MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing
Secretary, commenting on new analysis by Shelter
showing that 131,000 children will be homeless this Christmas,
said:
“This appalling rise in homelessness since 2010 is a direct
result of decisions made by Conservative Ministers.
“Homelessness fell at an unprecedented rate with Labour, but
after eight years of the Tories, it is shameful that 131,000
children will be without a home this Christmas.
“It’s no surprise that homelessness is rising rapidly when the
Conservatives have slashed investment in new affordable homes,
refused to help private renters and made huge cuts to housing
benefit and homelessness services.
“Labour will end rough sleeping within a Parliament and tackle
the root causes of rising homelessness with a million new
low-cost homes and stronger rights for renters.”
Ends
Notes to editors
- · The
housing charity Shelter has calculated that 131,000 children will
be homeless in temporary accommodation in Britain this Christmas,
the highest number in over a decade.
- · Since
2010, the Conservatives have:
- slashed investment in
affordable homes, leading to an 80% fall in the number of social
rented homes being built: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/758193/Live_Table_1000.xlsx;
- refused to back
Labour’s proposals for greater stability and control on costs in
the private rented sector;
- made deep cuts to
housing benefit: https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/SN05638;
and
- slashed funding for
homelessness services by 70%: https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Financial-sustainabilty-of-local-authorites-2018.pdf
