Ending homelessness

Our vision is our country free from homelessness. Ending rough sleeping by the time the 2012 Olympics come to the UK is a crucial step towards this.  It is right to aim high. We have already achieved major progress. Now we have the chance to go further. The rest of the world is watching. The moment to act is now. The power to act is ours. We invite you to join us in making rough sleeping and homelessness history.

Ending homelessness - from vision to action

 Ending Homelessness: From Vision to Action explains how to make the vision of ending homelessness a reality.  

Here are some of our achievements on the journey to ending homelessness. 

Our Olympic target - ending rough sleeping in Britain by 2012

Rough sleeping, while much reduced, remains the sharpest form of homelessness in this country. In 21st century Britain everybody in every area should have an alternative to sleeping rough. It is possible to achieve this. 

For over 3 years we have campaigned for an end to rough sleeping ‘once and for all’ by 2012.  In past Olympiads homelessness has been swept out of sight only to return. This time it can be different.

We celebrate the Prime Minister's and Government's commitment to end rough sleeping within 3 years and that of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.  Caroline Spelman MP for the Conservatives and Andrew Stunnell MP for the Liberal Democrats backed our campaign from the start.

This is an ambitious cross party goal. It taps into the essence of our national values, coupled with a focused and pragmatic approach. Our optimism is grounded in the success of recent years, when Government, charities and local councils have worked together in partnership, significantly reducing street homelessness and helping thousands of people off the streets, never to return.

 We have international recognition for its leadership in this area. Now fresh energy, focus and a practical strategy to help people out of homelessness and prevent new people starting to sleep rough, means we can show how its possible to see our country free from rough sleeping.  

Read more about our campaign to end rough sleeping by 2012.  

Ending rough sleeping in Europe

The European Parliament has pledged to end street homelessness across all member states by 2015.

With 438 MEPs signing the cross-party written declaration, which was registered in December 2007, the declaration was adopted, firmly placing street homelessness on the political agenda in Europe.  Homeless Link wrote to Members of European Parliament in February urging them to sign the declaration, which calls on the European Council to agree an EU-wide commitment to end street homelessness by 2015. We called on the Commission to develop a framework for ending homelessness and to report on progress. MEPs from different parties sponsored the resolution and signed up to the ambition.

Homeless Link worked with FEANTSA, our European Federation in the campaign.