“Those who have experienced homelessness have unique insights, empathy, and understanding that can truly make a difference in supporting systems and policy makers to create effective and long-lasting solutions to homelessness. Those who have been through it know it best.” – Steering group member
At Groundswell we believe that everyone has the right to a home, the right to healthcare and the right opportunities to improve their lives. People experiencing homelessness are often denied their rights, feel unaware of them and struggle to enact them. We want this to change.
In preparation for the general election, Groundswell and Amnesty UK collaborated with people who have experience of homelessness to ensure that their voice and priorities are heard by policy makers.
Over 8 months, we met with 11 homelessness organisations and 71 participants, 72% of which had previously experienced homelessness to find out what their priorities were for the next government. Through extensive development and support from a peer-led steering group, we are pleased to launch our Charter ‘Ending Homelessness Together – Our Voice, Our Rights’, which has been developed and led by people with experience of homelessness.
The Charter sets out the keys asks for the new government as prioritised by people with experience of homelessness. It provides evidence from a human rights perspective to reinforce and demonstrate the necessity for each ask to be upheld.
Our Voice – key priorities for change
We must:
- Acknowledge that homelessness is not only a housing issue but also a health issue, and must be tackled to address health inequalities.
- Provide more and better financial support for people experiencing homelessness, through making renting affordable and addressing benefit levels.
- Improve and increase housing provision, including temporary accommodation and review wider homelessness regulations.
- Ensure that all future policy decisions are fully informed by and created with people with lived experience.
>Read the full charter on the Groundswell website.
“It has been really empowering being part of this work, it’s helped to open our eyes to see how we can use our participation skills to influence government and create more impact with the work we do. It’s encouraging us to take risks and be bolder with our asks. Working with Amnesty has been essential in helping us to understand legal frameworks and human rights which have helped us to be more confident in what we are saying and in what we are asking for.”
-Steering group member
“Inheriting a legacy of poor decisions and inaction, the new Labour government faces an unprecedented homelessness crisis. The Labour Party manifesto commitment to increase housing supply and affordability alongside a homelessness strategy is encouraging, but swift and decisive action across all departments is time critical. Groundswell’s Charter, written by those who have experienced homelessness, underscores the principle that the best solutions come from those directly affected. This aligns with Keir Starmer’s belief stated in his first press conference, that ‘those with skin in the game know what is best for their communities.’ We are hopeful that this shared principle will guide the government to place importance on the demands in Groundswell’s charter and to collaborate with people affected, towards effective planning and action to end homelessness.”
-Jen Clark – Economic Social and Cultural Rights Lead, Amnesty International UK