Founding Ambassadors
The founding ambassadors below support the three pledges. Like us they believe that 2021 could mark a definitive turning point in homelessness. But only if we can be confident that we are working towards ending, rather than managing, homelessness. Join us.
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.
Neil Coyle
Co-Chair, APPG on Ending Homelessness
I have seen first-hand that the causes of homelessness are varied and complex but not insurmountable. As co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Ending Homelessness, I am pushing for focused and evidence-based interventions to help people who are homeless, and to get people who are sleeping rough off the streets. As homelessness continues to rise each year, with the likelihood that it will surge due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic aftermath, now more than ever it is important to use the APPG as a platform for bringing together parliamentarians from all parties to unite and campaign on workable policy solutions to ending homelessness.
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, Southend on Sea Borough Council
In Southend, we are really honest about the need to improve the life chances of people affected or at risk of homelessness in our borough and have committed to doing this in our Southend 2050 ambition. We believe one way of achieving step change in our approach is by focusing on what works by finding and funding solutions backed by evidence and data. This is why we are embracing the ‘what work’s approach, and urge other local authorities to do the same.
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
ex-Senior Advisor MHCLG 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.
Cllr Elena Whitham
East Ayrshire Council
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.
