Ministers "Ready For Talks" With Homeless Charities
Campaigners for the homeless have said that Government ministers are planning talks with charities over ways of coping with the crisis.
They want the new Prime Minister to put the issue of homelessness high on his political agenda.
The charities, Shelter and Centrepoint, together with The Big Issue newspaper have produced a wide-ranging plan to tackle the problem of homelessness.
John Bird, founding editor of The Big Issue magazine, delivered the 10 point plan of action to Downing Street.
He said Social Services Secretary Harriet Harman and welfare minister Frank Field were keen to meet pressure groups to discuss moves to help curb the problem.
"We have a kind of united strategy rather than going at things in a piecemeal way. There are encouraging signs of a good working relationship between the Government and homelessness organisations and businesses, so we are really happy about that," he said.
Mr Bird expects to meet ministers within the next three months when the charities alliance has been set up.
"We are not saying we want to eradicate all homelessness because it is impossible to do that. But it is possible to remove a lot of people who are falling into the homeless trap. We could remove them with a minimum of financial input and a minimum amount of effort," he said.
The homeless charities want the Government to announce new laws in the Queen's Speech creating the right to permanent housing for homeless families.
An end to curbs on housing benefit for the under-25s, with more government money going to councils to pay for local initiatives, and a guaranteed right to vote for every homeless person, are included in the 10 point action plan.
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