John McDonnell wholeheartedly supports Crisis’ campaign calling for the law to be reviewed to ensure that all homeless people who approach a local authority are given the help they need.

Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people. Their purpose is to end homelessness. Crisis helps people rebuild their lives through housing, health, education and employment services.

‘Turned Away’ the recently published report by Crisis investigated the treatment of single homeless people by local authority homelessness services in England.

Eight undercover researchers visited 16 local authorities across England to examine the quality of assistance single homeless people receive from Housing Options and homelessness services. In over half of the visits (50 out of 87) they received little or no help from local authorities, even though in the scenarios they were presenting they had nowhere to stay that evening. www.crisis.org.uk/nooneturnedaway

“Even in the 21st century, homeless people who ask their council for help are being turned away to sleep on the streets -; cold, desperate and forgotten. This is nothing short of a scandal.”

In response, Crisis is demanding politicians review the help single homeless people in England get under the law, so no one is forced to sleep rough.

John said “in my constituency we are facing the worst housing crisis since the second world war, with families living in overcrowded squalor, and hundreds now in bed and breakfasts, shunted around the country just to find a roof over their heads and many people are forced to sleep on the streets rendering them even more vulnerable. This is an absolute disgrace.”