The issue of rough sleeping and homelessness cannot be tackled by money alone, a General Election candidate for Lichfield and Burntwood has claimed.
Michael Fabricant was speaking at a hustings event held at Wade Street Church.
The Conservative candidate said that while funding was needed, it wasn’t the complete solution:
“Rough sleeping is a dreadful thing. In Lichfield District there are five rough sleepers, but we must not confuse this with homelessness.
“All five have been offered housing, three have taken it up but have left.
“As dreadful as it is, it’s far too simplistic for anyone to claim it’s a lack of money.
“Money is part of it too, but it isn’t simply that. It’s always more complicated than that.”
Conservative candidate Michael Fabricant
Mr Fabricant said the Conservatives had been committed to putting money back into services to support homeless people.
“The Government has already invested this year a further £1.2billion to try and get this under control.
“But throwing money at it alone is not the solution.
“If we adopt a Labour proposal to control rented housing, which will drive the rented sector out of the market it’s going to create even greater difficulties for those who want to not be homeless.
“There are no simple answers.”
Conservative candidate Michael Fabricant
“It is an absolute travesty”
Labour’s candidate Dave Robertson said that while the scale of rough sleeping in Lichfield was lower than in most areas, it was still a figure the city should not be proud of:
“We are in the fifth largest economy in the world and one of the most affluent areas of the county and here we are talking about half a dozen people rough sleeping because there is no housing available.
“It is an absolute travesty.”
Dave Robertson, Labour candidate
The Labour hopeful said that it was time for a rethink on how the country supports its citizens.
“Homelessness is a complex issue. But we have to stop looking at this in terms what we have and start thinking about what we need.
“It will take some additional taxes and the way our treasury works – I am unashamedly happy to admit that, because what we have doesn’t work.
“We’ve got to stop fiddling around on the edges. We’ve got to make concrete change.
“There needs to be real action on housing and we need to tackle the housing supply and make sure what housing we do have is fit for human habitation.
“We need system change that focuses on individuals and dignity rather than the size of GDP.”
Labour candidate Dave Robertson
Candidates contesting the Lichfield seat at the 2019 General Election are:
- Michael Fabricant (Conservatives)
- John Madden (Independent)
- Andrea Muckley (Green Party)
- Paul Ray (Lib Dems)
- Dave Robertson (Labour)
Of course throwing money at a problem isn’t the total solution. But the lack of available funding from Central Govt. to local councils for much needed services is a big part of it.Prior to 9 years of austerity, the burden of which has been placed on the shoulders of the less well off in our communities, there used to be properly funded hostels and fully trained outreach workers for those suffering with mental illness and/or drug/alcohol related issues so their problems could be dealt with on an individual basis. Each according to their needs.There were properly funded services for the vulnerable in our communities, this included women’s hostels and counselling for women suffering domestic violence, funding for community youth support groups and youth centres. Relevant groupwork facilities or individual counselling provided by properly qualified staff, for drug and/or alcohol addiction and violence. As a retired Probation Officer, my work was to help reduce reoffending and it was greatly enhanced by having such community facilities available. I would never have been able to do my job properly without them. It saddens me to see what this country and our communities have been reduced to and to know that it is the children, our future who are suffering. And yet older people like me who will not be around that much longer have the opportunity to vote on such an important issue as Brexit which will define our country when our youth whose future we hold in our hands, have been denied it. Then there is the environmental issue which will impact them most, not dealing with this in a meaningful way means no one will survive. I urge older people to talk with and mostly to listen to the young ones. Let us bridge the divide. It is within our power. .
Well said, Megan!