London's Rough Sleeping Charter

Over the last 12 months, I have had the honour of representing YMCA St Paul's Group the development of London's first Rough Sleeping Charter, which was launched by the Mayor of London last week.

The charter has been developed by colleagues from London Councils, the GLA and a core group of homelessness charities (including the Passage, Connection at St Martins, Groundswell and Housing Justice ), people with lived experience of homelessness and supported by Bloomberg Associates.

The charter that creates a shared purpose and vision for tackling the challenge of rough sleeping in the capital, and sets out six principles for signatories to uphold in their work including:

• Accepting that whilst people sleeping rough may have problems, they aren’t problem people
• Recognising that everyone rough sleeping is unique, and there should be meaningful options for all, regardless of immigration status
• Ensuring that people sleeping rough are safe from violence, abuse, theft and discrimination and that they have the full protection of the law

It also includes key actions that signatories commit to undertake and support:

• Acknowledging people when they talk to you or ask you for money, even if you decide you would rather not give it to them directly
• If you see someone sleeping rough who needs help, let Streetlink London know
• Volunteer, donate, or support a charity who has joined this pledge

We are now looking to get as many people, including charities involved in housing and homelessness, as well as all the LA’s and MPs to sign up via the website here:

https://www.endroughsleepinglondon.org.uk/