End it with evidence

Amanda Andere

Chief Executive, Funders Together to End Homelessness

We cannot continue to sit at the same tables having the same conversations about a stubborn problem and expect it to change. By funding the right solutions, the ones we know will make a difference, we can seize the opportunity to make great change worldwide. And, by deploying good quality evidence to tackle the underlying causes of homelessness - such as structural and racial inequities, we can solve the problem of homelessness itself.

Bob Blackman

MP, Co-Chair All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ending Homelessness

Homelessness is not a given. Too many opportunities to prevent homelessness are currently being missed. This is especially true for people leaving the care of the state, including those leaving prison and the care system, as we found during our APPG inquiry into prevention. By working together to promote long-term, evidence informed sustainable solutions to it, we can ensure future generations are not at risk of the perpetuation of homelessness and end this national crisis.

Suzanne Fitzpatrick

Professor of Housing and Social Policy in the Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Environment and Real Estate (I-SPHERE), Heriot-Watt University

Currently we often know what problems need to be solved, but may not be making the right kinds of investments to address them because the evidence is weak or lacking. To improve positive impact we need to be able to do the right things well. By engaging in robust evaluation of targeted, practical responses that seek to prevent or alleviate homelessness, we arm ourselves with the knowledge we need to end homelessness.

Linda Gibbs

Principal for Social Services, Bloomberg Associates

We need to make sure that people who are making decisions in every level of government have the ability to use data in decision making and policy making. When we've not made progress it’s because we haven’t figured out what needs to change and measured our progress towards it. We’ve also not had effective collaboration across service providers. Getting people together to look at and assess data is key.

Alison Griffin

Chief Executive, London Councils

London faces the most severe homelessness crisis in the country and the capital’s local authorities have a pivotal role to play in addressing this. As the cross-party group representing all 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation, London Councils fosters collaboration across the capital and works with the government and other key partners to tackle homelessness. It’s essential that we use evidence-based policies and practices to achieve the best possible results for those experiencing homelessness and to do everything we can to help end homelessness altogether.

Rosanne Haggerty

President and Chief Executive Officer, Community Solutions

We firmly believe that with evidence, ending homelessness is achievable, and together we can redefine what is possible in the movement to end homelessness. By applying moral courage, data-driven thinking, and a system-wide approach we are already seeing tangible results and communities achieving what was previously considered impossible.

Paul Matthews

Chief Executive, Monmouthshire County Council

At a time when our citizens are concerned about the impact of the pandemic on their families, income, housing, and wellbeing it is crucial that we don’t leave anyone behind. Leaders in local areas have difficult jobs to do, but making more effective use of data and evidence can help us be more effective and aid us in our goals. Join us.

Mark McGreevy OBE

Founder, Institute of Global Homelessness at DePaul University, CEO of De Paul International

I hope in the future we will be more humble, that we have the courage and the wisdom to say we don’t know which idea is better, but we're systematically going to find out. If we could get that, I genuinely believe it would change the world.

Sir Geoff Mulgan CBE

Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy and Social Innovation at University College London

This is a decisive moment for homelessness in the UK and in many other countries. We have a chance to shift what is thought of as possible or normal. At a minimum we should use this opportunity to improve outcomes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness by focusing on what works, pushing for interventions to be rigorously evaluated, and directing investments towards prevention. We should also be bold in thinking about what might be possible over the next decade if we can raise our ambitions.

Commander Alex Murray OBE

Met Police

I have seen first hand in my work the positive impact that applying rigorous evidence to complex problems can have. Just as in evidence-based policing, to tackle homelessness effectively we must take a step back, evaluate how and where we are seeing success, and what simply doesn’t work, and commit to creating a culture that brings real, lasting solutions into our communities.

Rev. Ian Rutherford

City Centre Minister in Greater Manchester and Faith Sector Lead on Homelessness for the Mayor

Homelessness is complex and identifying the most effective solutions won’t be simple - we know that much from our work in Greater Manchester. It’s no surprise that there is public scepticism about our ability to end or even significantly reduce homelessness, or positively engage with people who refuse ‘standard offers’ for help. Making policy and funding decisions based on the best possible evidence will help bring confidence that we can do it.

Jeremy Swain

Adviser on homelessness and ex-CEO Thames Reach

Governments must be equipped to help as many people as possible escape the distress and trauma of homelessness. Better evidence and data is crucial if we are to respond promptly and direct investment effectively, ensuring every penny invested in homelessness solutions is well spent.

Jean Templeton

Chief Executive, St Basil's charity

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.

Elena Whitham MSP

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

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.

Stephen Timms MP

MP for East Ham

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.

Wendy Chamberlain

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

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.

Darren Rodwell

Labour Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council

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.

End it with Evidence

Launch Event