Crisis comments on planned housing bill

As many as 400,000 single homeless people may be living in temporary and unsettled accommodation such as hostels, bed and breakfasts, squats or 'sofa-surfing' with families and friends.

Crisis welcomes the reduction in the number of rough sleepers since 1997 and urges the Government to now look at ways of getting these people, the 'Hidden Homeless' into permanent, quality accommodation. Both public and private sectors have a part to play.

Homelessness can have far leading consequences. It can destroy confidence and lower self-esteem and increase exposure to alcohol and drugs. The stigma of homelessness may also act as a barrier to employment. Homeless and vulnerably housed people are among the most socially excluded members of society.

Organisations such as Crisis are working every day with homeless people to rebuild confidence and skills. Finding a decent place they can call home is only part of the solution but it is a vital part.

The Government wishes to target social exclusion and to raise levels of employment. The overwhelming majority of homeless people are also unemployed. Most want to work. Without decent, secure housing most will remain trapped in a cycle of poverty, social exclusion and unemployment.