End it with evidence

We are living in times of great challenge and social change. The cost-of-living crisis is having a terrifying impact on our most vulnerable, and on young people in particular. This is only adding to the many adversities they already face, and is already translating into the rising numbers experiencing homelessness. At LandAid, and along with other funders, we want to help where we can help best, where we can support the greatest impact possible. Yet, while wanting to be led by what works, we know that there is a lack of sufficient evidence and data informing practice within the homelessness sector and beyond. This is something that we are passionate to change, and is why I am so firmly behind this campaign.

Paul Morrish

CEO, LandAid

Councils hold a lot of data and have a very wide-ranging brief to support their most vulnerable residents. As a sector we must double down on prevention as well as react to need in our communities. We must never forget we serve people, and it should be this that focuses our energies.

Darren Rodwell

Labour Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council

We have a unique opportunity to build upon successful measures that were implemented in response to the pandemic that helped to relieve some people from the pressures of homelessness. It is imperative that we learn from what was successful and make every effort to adapt those policies into long term, achievable projects that will help bring an end to homelessness, once and for all. And that includes how we think and talk about homelessness. I am convinced that to achieve a lasting end to homelessness we must fully understand and explain the problem. We must explain that homelessness blights the lives of families in rural areas such as North East Fife as well as those of people in cities.

Wendy Chamberlain

MP for North East Fife and Deputy Leader of Scottish Liberal Democrats

My East Ham constituency in London is at the very sharp end of the housing crisis. Rents are unaffordable on the wages of many working families in the area. East Ham has the highest rate of household overcrowding in the country, and 27,000 people are on our social housing waiting list. I tell people at my constituency surgeries it might be 15 years or more before they are allocated social housing. Before the pandemic, Newham had the third highest rate of street homelessness in London. We need to address these challenges with evidence and research.

Stephen Timms MP

MP for East Ham

In my work with the COSLA and Scottish Government’s Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group, I have seen first hand the benefits to be gained from supporting local authorities embrace an evidence-led approach to tackling homelessness. As illustrated by the great leaps forward we have seen in other fields like international development, we can achieve significant results in local areas if we gradually shift attitudes and behaviour and use better information to guide vital investments.

Elena Whitham MSP

MSP for Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley and Minister for Community Safety

We collect data so front-line teams can see what they’re doing well, where they’re struggling and talk to colleagues who may be achieving outcomes they’re struggling with and learn from each other. It isn’t just about data, however. On its own, data may be ignored, or may prompt a defensive reaction. We blend this information by weaving in young people’s lived experience. The knowledge and experience young people have of their context and our services is absolutely critical to us.

Jean Templeton

Chief Executive, St Basil's charity