Launch of London Rough Sleeping Charter

Mayor Sadiq Khan with campaigners at the launch of the campaign: A bench is not a bed!

Housing Justice has launched the London Rough Sleeping Charter in conjunction with London Councils, the London Mayor's Office and other homelessness sector partners.

Following extensive planning and collaboration with partners including the Connection at St Martin's, London Councils, The Passage, Groundswell and the YMCA, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, launched the London Rough Sleeping Charter at St John's Church, Waterloo.

The Charter is a public commitment for Londoners to work together to tackle rough sleeping in our capital and is supported by the 'Life off the Streets' group, a coalition of organisations working together to end rough sleeping in London, as well as more than 100 local organisations and businesses.

The Charter sets out six principles for signatories to uphold 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, notify Streetlink London

Volunteer, donate or support a charity which has joined the pledge.

Support Ooberfuse's Christmas release: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/48563
All proceeds will be going to relieve the urgent needs of homeless people this winter through Central London Catholic Churches, a consortium of volunteer groups from different Catholic churches in Central London, based at Farm Street Church in Mayfair.

Find out more about the London Rough Sleeping Charter and sign the pledge HERE

LINK

Housing Justice: https://housingjustice.org.uk/