As the new Government settles into No. 10, they can take positive action to tackle homelessness. Here’s their moving in checklist for the first 100 days.

The new Government has entered Westminster buoyed by electoral success built on a message of change. And it’s clear that we need change when it comes to housing and homelessness.

Hundreds of thousands of people across the country are homeless, living without secure housing or any form of housing at all.

Our own frontline services have seen demand soar by 25% across Britain, with our service in Brent seeing a massive rise in the number of people seeking support by 44% in just one year.

It cannot be overstated: the current situation is dire. It needs fixing, urgently.

But, for the first time ever, we have a UK Government elected on the promise of working towards ending homelessness altogether – not just rough sleeping. This is significant and desperately needed.

The first 100 days of the new government is the time when they can set the foundations for a future free from homelessness and make inroads on their promises

Now that the new Government has the keys to No.10, we have put together some essentials for their new home. These are our three priorities for them.

1. Install a new Unit for Ending Homelessness

The Labour manifesto included a commitment to a cross-government strategy to get the country back on track to ending homelessness. Establishing a Unit for Ending Homelessness should be a priority in the first 100 days.

This Unit, which should be backed by the Prime Minister and sit at the heart of the government, can unite different departments to tackle homelessness together – as Labour committed to doing in their manifesto.

The Unit should consult on what should be in the government’s strategy, and work closely with people who have experienced homelessness, Mayors, local authorities and organisations focused on homelessness, housing, domestic abuse, migration, and poverty.

By listening to people directly affected, the Unit can deliver informed and effective solutions and ensure that everyone has access to a safe, secure, settled home.

2. Unpack the essentials for boosting homes to end homelessness

At the heart of this issue is housing. Too many people do not have a home that is safe and truly affordable; somewhere they can put down roots without fear of being forced to move.

To get to grips with this crisis, we need social housing. Over the past decade, we’ve seen the numbers of social rented homes sharply decline.

Homes take time to build, but the new government can start unpacking the essentials now.

In their first 100 days, they can lay out a clear plan for boosting social housing delivery, introduce renting reform laws and give councils the funding they need to support people who are homeless.

It’s important the Government makes clear what funding will be available to help make sure we can deliver enough social homes to end homelessness.

Labour committed to ending section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, the leading cause of homelessness from the private rented sector. The Government can act fast to bring in new laws to do this.

More and more people are turning to their local councils because they are forced into homelessness. It’s essential the Government gives local authorities the funding and support they need to meet this challenge.

3. Chuck out the Vagrancy Act

Lastly, the new government has the opportunity to end the criminalisation of homelessness by immediately scrapping the Vagrancy Act in the King’s Speech.

The repeal of the Vagrancy Act was enshrined in law in 2022 but has not yet been enacted, meaning the law can still be used today to criminalise people sleeping rough.

After 200 years on the statute books, it’s time to finally get rid of this outdated law. No one should be punished for being homeless.

The new government can immediately signal a change in approach to homelessness and repeal this ancient legislation once and for all.

The current state of homelessness in England is a source of national shame. But it does not need to be like this. We do not have to accept being a country where thousands of us are forced to bed down on our streets each night, and children grow up never knowing what it is to have a home.

The new Government has said it’s time for change. Ending homelessness is possible, and we stand ready to work with the Government to make it happen.