Homeless issue to end by 2012 "“It’s scandalous that in 21st century London people have to resort to sleeping on the streets" - Mayor Johnson

City Hall Desk

In a bid to end the ongoing problem of homelessness in the capital Mayor Johnson today pledged that he would try and end rough sleeping in the capital by 2012. The Mayor was speaking at the launch of the London Delivery Board, which brings together key stakeholders focused on ending rough sleeping. He also met with members of the homeless community at the event at the Broadway Centre in Shepherd’s Bush.

Half of the country’s rough sleepers are found on London streets, which amounts to around 3,000 people over the course of a year. There has been a decline in the number of rough sleepers in the capital in the past ten years, but London is the only region in the country that has failed to meet the government’s 1998 target to reduce rough sleeping by two-thirds. A key reason for this failure has been the lack of a co-ordinated response that works across geographical and organisational boundaries.

The new Board provides a fresh and dynamic approach underpinned by strong partnerships, a shared response and common ownership of the problem. Its launch follows the Mayor’s commitment in his Housing Strategy to tackle rough sleeping with practical action. It brings together for the first time key stakeholders who are all committed to ending rough sleeping in the capital by 2012.

Chaired by the Mayor’s Director of Housing, Richard Blakeway, the Board is comprised of senior level representatives from influential voluntary and public sector bodies. These include local authorities, leading charities and central government, and span a range of support services that include social, health, and drugs and alcohol.  

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “It’s scandalous that in 21st century London people have to resort to sleeping on the streets, which is why I have pledged to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2012. We are fully aware that in the current recession, when many might say that we should focus on other priorities such as building more homes, that this is an ambitious commitment. However, even in these challenging economic times, we must not lose sight of those less fortunate. Our commitment is more important than ever and we now have the right people gathered round one table to honour and achieve it.”

Leslie Morphy, Chief Executive, Crisis said: "In the capital city of the 5th richest economy in the world it is a scandal that every day people still face no choice but to sleep on our streets. We are delighted that the Mayor has committed to end rough sleeping by 2012 and look forward to bringing Crisis’ knowledge and experience of tackling and preventing homelessness to the newly established Delivery Board.

"Ending rough sleeping will require determined leadership. It also requires a joined up approach across the capital to ensure homeless people get the housing, healthcare, skills and employment services they need. Only then we will be able to put rough sleeping to bed for good."

Jenny Edwards, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, the national umbrella organisation for frontline homelessness agencies, said: "The Mayor of London's pledge to end rough sleeping by 2012 and to reduce the number of people experiencing the 'revolving door' of homelessness mirrors Homeless Link's three year campaign on this issue.  With his strong commitment and personal leadership, I am confident that London can be a shining example, both nationally and internationally, on how partnership working can end rough sleeping once and for all.  We are keen to work with him and the new London Delivery Board and other partners to develop new approaches to drive this process forward." 

Jeremy Swain, chief executive, Thames Reach said: 'I am delighted that the Mayor has made the commitment to end rough sleeping in London by 2012. We are all rightly proud of this great city and it is utterly unacceptable that in 2009 some of its citizens still have to resort to sleeping on cardboard, huddled in shop doorways and along back alleys.

He has brought together some of the most committed and effective representatives from local and central government and the voluntary sector to form the Delivery Board and I am very confident that this group will be the vanguard of an unstoppable coalition of interests which will secure  London's place in history as the first  major capital city where no one needs to sleep rough.' 

Charles Fraser, chief executive, St Mungo’s, said: “St Mungo’s is delighted that the Mayor has so readily taken up the challenge of ending rough sleeping in London. We see this as an outstanding opportunity to not just help people off the streets, but to also address their underlying needs for healthcare and employment, and we look forward to helping the Delivery Board in every way we can.”