European Parliament must take a lead on homelessness, says Liz Lynne (Birmingham Yardley Liberal Democrats)

Birmingham Yardley Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

European Parliament must take a lead on homelessness, says Liz Lynne

September 9, 2010 12:01 AM
Originally published by Liz Lynne MEP

LibDem Euro MP Liz Lynne and a cross party group of MEPs has launched a call for an ambitious EU wide strategy to fight homelessness, with action to end street homelessness in all member states by 2015.

The MEPs, who launched their written declaration in Strasbourg this week, say that the European Parliament in particular needs to show leadership and campaign for the Commission and European member states to give homeless people a higher priority.

They are appealing for other MEPs from all party groups to sign their declaration, which needs 369 supporters to be adopted.

West Midlands MEP Liz Lynne said: "Homelessness is possibly the most extreme form of poverty and social exclusion. It is a serious problem not just in poorer parts of Europe but in every member state and the financial crisis has only made the outlook worse.

"Some progress has been made since the adoption of the EP written declaration in 2007 to fight street homelessness, but as 2010 is the European Year for combating poverty and social exclusion it is important to challenge other EU institutions and member states to up their game.

"We need policies that make a real difference in the lives of people without a proper home. If anti poverty strategies have any meaning then affordable housing has to be a core component. We need each country to agree effective national strategies and to learn from each other.

"Britain has far too many homeless people and a crisis in social housing, but we also have some recent good news on community funded affordable housing projects in Birmingham and pioneering schemes for affordable part-buy or rented houses in Shropshire which deserve to be followed as best practice."

The declaration Liz is co-sponsoring calls for a coordinated approach on homelessness in the EU and EU Member States and supports the following priorities for action.

no one sleeping rough;

no one living in emergency accommodation for longer than the period of an 'emergency';

no one in transitional accommodation longer than is required for a successful move-on;

no one leaving an institution without being given housing options;

· no young people becoming homeless as a result of the transition to independent living.

Liz added: "We hope as many MEPs as possible will sign up to this declaration. We need to show the Commission and the governments of member states that these actions are desperately needed.

I hope people write to their local MEPs from all parties and urge them to show support by signing written declaration 61/2010."

ENDS

The full text of declaration 61 can be found at this link:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/plenary/writtenDecl/wdFastOngoing.do?language=EN