Campaigns and Issues

Mike Hancock, the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South this week pledged to represent the needs of their homeless constituents in support of charity St Mungo's 2011 Action Week, which is focussing on the inclusion of homeless people in society.

A new report from St Mungo's, 'Enough Room: is society big enough for homeless people?', highlights that only 14% of St Mungo's staff and clients believe that homeless people are included in society, although of St Mungo's homeless clients surveyed, 70% wanted to volunteer to "give something back to their local community" or to "help other people."

The charity warns that homeless people risk even greater social exclusion if the Government's Big Society doesn't develop the muscle to include vulnerable groups and is calling on the Government to develop an overarching Inclusion Strategy. It also calls on local authorities to do their bit to include homeless people in more community planning and decision making.

Mike says; "I'm pledging my support for St Mungo's Action Week and homeless people in my constituency to put pressure on the Government to take serious steps towards ensuring this issue is addressed. For far too long homeless people have suffered without the required support from our Government and it is high time these individuals were helped to re-enter society in an inclusive and productive manner."

Charles Fraser, St Mungo's chief executive said: "Our report shows that homeless people already feel stigmatised and excluded, yet they have a strong sense of wanting to give something back through volunteering. They are very sceptical, however, about the Government's 'Big Society' message. All of those interviewed thought the Big Society would have a negative effect on them, inextricably linked to cuts.

"For society to be truly big enough to include homeless people, we need determined leadership from the very top to make sure that every government action - big or small - takes into account the impact it will have on deeply disadvantaged people. That's why we're asking MPs and the public to pledge their support."

St Mungo's is asking members of the public to make their pledge to show their support via its website at www.mungos.org

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