Havant MP backs bill calling on councils to provide more homeless aid

Havant MP Alan Mak has backed the Homelessness Reduction Bill, which was passed unanimously in Parliament on its second reading.

The bill, which was also supported by Portsmouth South MP Flick Drummond, would help to prevent vulnerable people losing their homes.

Mr Mak admits that, while Havant’s rate of rough sleepers is low, the government ‘should not be complacent on a national level’.

He said: ‘Havant Borough Council does excellent work preventing homelessness working with housing associations. We need to make sure that anyone facing homelessness can get help, ideally before they actually lose their home and I will be fully supporting the Homelessness Reduction Bill as it moves through Parliament.

‘Nobody should be forced to sleep rough because they can’t get the help they need.’

A number of national homeless charities, such as Crisis, have shown their support for the bill.

Jon Sparkes, chief exec of Crisis, thanked Mr Mak for his support. He says that the overwhelming vote in favour of the bill was a ‘landmark moment’.

He said: ‘We still have a long way to go before it becomes law, but we’ll be there every step of the way to help make sure it happens.

‘We have the momentum and we have the cross-party consensus, and this success shows what can be done when people come together to help tackle homelessness.’