The Salvation Army is calling on candidates who are standing for
the four main political parties (Labour, Conservative, Liberal
Democrats and the Green Party) in the mayoral elections in
England to sign a pledge to work to end rough sleeping if
elected.
The church and charity’s divisional commanders and political
affairs colleagueswrote to candidates in each of the mayoral
election areas urging them to help ensure the Government provides
enough long-term funding for homelessness prevention.
Divisional Commander, Major Ian Harris, of the Severn and
Somerset Division,said: “I was pleased to write to the Mayoral
candidates of the four main parties to ask for their help to end
homelessness in our great cities.
“The Salvation Army’s frontline in the west of England has been
working hard throughout the pandemic to provide beds, hot meals,
warm clothing and a listening ear to rough sleepers.
“Every day they see the devastating impact homelessness has on
people’s lives and the knock-on effect on services like the NHS
and police, as they try to help people affected.
“Although real progress was made during the pandemic as part of
the ‘Everyone In’ scheme, it is vital we keep up the momentum and
ensure long term funding for homelessness services especially as
an economic downturn is likely to mean more people are forced to
sleep on the streets.
“I forward to working with our elected mayor to press the case
for the necessary Government funding to eradicate homelessness.”
The Salvation Army is one of the largest homelessness charities
operating in the UK, providing more than 3,000 places for people
in lifehouses (supported housing) across England, Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland. Alongside this many corps (churches) offer
drop-ins and personalised support for people in need.
One of those helped by one of our lifehouses was 43-year old Carl
Lake who had become addicted to amphetamines, found himself
unable to pay the rent and lost his home six years ago.
Carl said: “It was in February and it was absolutely freezing. I
will never forget it. I went to the side of a shopping centre,
got some boxes and made a bed in the doorway.
“Someone offered me a cup of tea and I burst into tears, I was
that cold and hungry.”
Carl was offered a place to stay at The Salvation Army’s
Darbyshire House in Liverpool, and with the help of the staff
there began to address his drug addiction. He now works to offer
the same support to others.
Carl added: “The Salvation Army saved my life. I owe everything
to them, and I would not be where I am today - sober, with my own
home, with fantastic friends - without them.”
ENDS
Mayoral elections are taking place in eight regions - Greater
London, Manchester, the West Midlands, Liverpool City region, the
Tees Valley, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and the West of
England. People in West Yorkshire will also elect their first
metro mayor.
The Salvation Army Rough Sleeping Pledge Certificate reads: “This
Metro Mayor Candidate pledges to work towards ending rough
sleeping in the xxx Combined Authority, if they are successfully
elected as a Metro Mayor 2021.”
