Homeless People Being Denied Basic Human Rights

Hundreds of homeless people living on the UK's streets are being denied basic human rights such as access to shelter, drinking water, sanitation and food, a coalition of housing and human rights groups has claimed. The UK Common Rights Project (UKCRP) says that the conditions many homeless people find themselves in are in contravention of the UN Declaration of Universal Rights. Led by Christian campaign group Housing Justice, UKCRP is developing the campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of the basic rights to shelter, food, drinking water and sanitation. An initial two working groups in Southwark and Islington representing local people will come up with innovative and practical solutions. Read more on 24dash.

Westminster Council Denies 'Pushing Ahead With Soup Run Ban'

Westminster City Council has denied allegations from a housing charity that it plans to push ahead with controversial plans to outlaw homelessness and free food handouts in the Victoria area, which includes the central piazza to Westminster Cathedral. The Council closed a month long consultation on the by-law on 25 March, after receiving more than 500 responses and petitions. It had been thought Westminster was prepared to do a u-turn on the plans following Sir George Young's comments in the House of Commons that the local authority was rethinking its approach and would be looking at a non-legislative approach. But homelessness charity Housing Justice claims the Council has decided to continue with the process of preparing a by-law to criminalise rough sleeping and the distribution of food to homeless people in the Victoria area, having been told "the council was pushing ahead with the by-law". Read more on the Ekklesia website.

Protestors Oppose Soup Run Ban

Protestors vowed they will clog up the courts if Westminster Council proceeds with a proposed ban on rough sleeping and soup runs in parts of the borough. Hundreds of protestors turned out to oppose the ban yesterday (20 March), which the local authority wants to introduce with a new bye-law. The protest started with scores of protestors lay on the ground outside the doors of the Communities and Local Government department. The CLG is one of the places rough sleeping would be banned under the proposed changes. The protestors included volunteers, church representatives, homelessness charities and rough sleepers. Alastair Murray, deputy director with homelessness charity Housing Justice, said the new law would ‘effectively criminalize compassion’. Read more on Inside Housing.

Government Supports Soup Run Ban

The Communities and Local Government department has backed moves by Westminster Council to ban rough sleeping and soup runs. The council is consulting on plans to ask CLG to approve a bye-law that would outlaw rough sleeping and soup runs in a wide area that includes Westminster Cathedral piazza and the department’s Eland House headquarters. A CLG spokesperson said: ‘Local homeless charities and Westminster Council believe that food handouts actually encourage people to sleep rough in central London, with all the dangers that entails. ‘There is no need for anyone to sleep rough in Westminster as there are a range of services that can help the vulnerable off the streets, and assist them make the first steps towards getting their lives back on track.’ Westminster announced it is consulting residents, businesses, local day centres and hostels and the voluntary sector on the plans earlier this week. Read more on Inside Housing or download a summary of a report compiled for Housing Justice called “Soup runs in Central London: ‘The right help in the right place at the right time?’”

Rights Guide For Rough Sleepers Launched

Homelessness charity Housing Justice and the homelessness magazine The Pavement have teamed up to produce a guide, Rights Guide For Rough Sleepers, which tells people on the streets what their legal position is. Download a copy of the guide from the Housing Justice website by clicking on the logo below.