Dear Mr Blair, regarding the homeless

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129, high street,

Cymmer,

Porth,

Rhondda Cynon Taff,

CF39 9EU

1st January 2004

Mr Tony Blair,

Prime minister,

The House of Commons,

London,

SW 1A 2DG.

Dear Mr Blair,

I am writing in order to bring to your attention the harrowing numbers of young homeless people being practically pushed out onto the life on the streets. In my opinion with your help I feel that the figures can and will be dramatically decreased and better help will be provided all around.

Im sure that somebody in your position would not be oblivious to the rough numbers of homeless people on the streets, but I also understand that facts and figures must be part of your daily routine so it cant be as easy to remember in detail, I can tell you that 40% of homeless people are under eighteen years of age! In 2000 in England, there were 172,760 households accepted as homeless. Of these;

  • 110,790 were classified as unintentionally homeless and in priority need;
  • 8,140 intentionally homeless and in priority need and;
  • 52,830 homeless and not in priority need.
  • In 1999 30% lost their home because friends or relatives could no longer accommodate them, 23% because of relationship breakdown, and 3% because of mortgage arrears.
  • It is estimated that the 172,760 households represents over 415,000 people.
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The governments answer? Temporary accommodation, but this can never be a solution, only a aid to buy more time to solve the problem, yet there doesn’t seem to be any real progress in permanently solving the problem. So many lives are destroyed on a problem that could so easily be prevented yet is currently vast.

People’s reasons for living on the streets vary, whether forced or there because they do not feel safe in their current accommodation, no case should be ignored, obviously there are priorities yet because someone has a home they could return to it doesn’t mean they’ll ...

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