Welfare Reform on the Web (April 2000): Homelessness - UK

'BLAIR IS USING THE HOMELESS AS LABORATORY ANIMALS FOR A POLICY EXPERIMENT; SOON HE'LL BE SUBJECTING US ALL TO LIFELONG LESSONS IN GOOD CITIZENSHIP'

M. Hume

Times, Dec. 20^th 1999, p.16

Comments on the government's emphasis on counselling and moral re-education in its initiatives to help rough sleepers, who are defined as being either mentally ill or alcoholics.

CAN WE END THE PLIGHT OF HOMELESSNESS?

P. Foster

Daily Telegraph, Dec. 17^th 1999, p.10

Reports the views of homeless charities on the difficulties of integrating rough sleepers back into society.

COMING IN FROM THE COLD: THE GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY ON ROUGH SLEEPING

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Rough Sleepers Unit.

London: 1999

Proposal to get rough sleepers off the streets include:

• provision of more bedspaces;
• funding of Contact and Assessment Teams to work with homeless people in discrete geographical areas;
• targeting those most in need such as drug and alcohol abusers and the mentally ill;
• to provide education, training and job opportunities;
• ensuring a continuum of care through better co-ordination of services;
• improvement of incentives to come inside by refocusing services away from those that sustain a street lifestyle;
• putting in place measures to prevent rough sleeping.

JUST SOUP WON'T DO

L. Casey

Roof, Jan./Feb. 2000, p.9

Explain that the government's strategy for reducing rough sleeping by two thirds by 2002 includes provision of counselling, education, and training, as well as increasing the number of hostel beds.

PREVENTION OF HOMELESSNESS BILL

Anon

SCOLAG journal, Nov. 1999, p.156-157

This Scottish Bill is an ambitious measure that seeks to establish a speedy procedure with power to the courts to consider personal circumstances and the need to prevent homelessness before allowing people to be evicted for rent arrears or mortgage default. It will also ensure that local authorities provide permanent and suitable accommodation for homeless people.

THEY MAY BEG TO DIFFER

P. Toynbee

Guardian, Dec. 17^th 1999, p.23

Government plans to tackle homelessness will include offering beggars a roof, long term treatment, a job and reintegration into society. While this may help the majority of rough sleepers, a minority of misfits will probably remain on the streets. Their freedom to do so must be respected, however, disconcerting society finds it.