An activist from the Labour Homelessness Campaign told Solidarity:
“Virtually every local authority is reporting that for every rough sleeper they house, more new rough sleepers come onto the streets after losing their income, or being unable to stay in overcrowded accommodation during the pandemic.
“Massive holes in the government’s Covid response are leading to these desperately sad stories of working-class people being left to fend for themselves on the streets during the pandemic.
“We need to demand the cancelling of rent and a total ban on evictions during the crisis, including for people who are lodgers. We also need a surge in homelessness spending and an end to all restrictions on support, so that when any rough sleeper is referred for support they get accommodation the first night.
“These demands are winnable, and very urgent — because we’re worried that what’s happening now is only a taste of the crisis to come. The day the lockdown ends millions of precarious people will be out of income, facing higher rents, and at significant risk of homelessness.”
• Longer interview with another Labour Homelessness Campaign activist here
• www.labourhomelessness.org.uk
