New Hope’s Key Concerns for the Incoming Government

Following Homeless Link’s manifesto, our own day-to-day experience of working with people who are homeless for over 30 years, and our knowledge of effective provision, we call for the next government to:

• Ensure people on low incomes have access to truly affordable housing. This is the single biggest step that can be taken to prevent homelessness, both now and in the future. The Government should commit to continue to peg Local Housing Allowance to the lowest 30th percentile of local rents each year, as well as at a minimum uprating the benefit cap, to provide stability for low-income private renters in the medium- to long-term.

• Ensure there is a diverse network of services available, embedding person-centred, trauma-informed care as a minimum. Inter-agency work has been proven to make a difference in the lives of people in Watford and we have a vision to build on this with The Hub – a centre which would incorporate accommodation, humanitarian aid, primary health care, benefits help, and addiction support. All New Hope’s services have been developed to be person-centred and trauma-informed with all staff trained in Psychologically Informed Environments. We know these methods are effective and we therefore call for the next government to ensure that this approach is followed nationwide.

• Adopt a cross-government strategy to end homelessness, led by a new task force directed by the Cabinet Office, to ensure all departments’ policies and programmes work consistently and holistically to end homelessness.