News

Letter to Home Secretary James Cleverly on Government proposals to criminalise rough sleeping

Young people with lived experience of homelessness quash some of the myths and narratives surrounding the subject.

On a chilly December afternoon, BBC Radio 1 DJ Dean McCullough joined our wonderful Centrepoint staff to learn about the vital work they’re doing in Manchester.

Ministers say the plans, currently racing through parliament as part of the Criminal Justice Bill, will give police and local authorities the ‘tools’ they need ‘in situations where those sleeping rough are causing damage, disruption and distress’. Centrepoint is worried this open-ended nature of ‘disruption and distress’ could leave the new laws open to abuse.

Former residents with lived experience of homelessness talk about what it's really like to sleep rough, the reasons behind it and the solutions.

We sent some of our snowmen to protest outside the Houses of Parliament to highlight the shocking number of young people at risk of homelessness this winter.

We've written an open letter to the Home Secretary Suella Braverman, alongside 14 other organisations, calling on the government to urgently reconsider proposals to criminalise the use of tents by people sleeping rough.

The Homewards initiative will test ideas and models to end homelessness in six locations across the UK, supported by our Patron, Prince William.

Homeless young people are ready to move on and live independently but they’re being held back by the housing crisis.

Our research estimates that 129,000 young people approached their council because they were homeless or at risk in the financial year 2021/2022.

Neil Jones, professional dancer from Strictly Come Dancing; Vicky Pattison, influencer, podcast host and TV star; Rhys Connah, Ryan from Happy Valley; and Gurlaine Kaur Garcha, who plays Ash from Eastenders, joined forces to highlight the truth about youth homelessness.

Strictly Come Dancing’s Neil Jones, Virtual Pub Quizmaster Jay Flynn, and graffiti artist Opake shared their inspiring stories of overcoming homelessness for our new social media campaign #MyBreakthrough.