Our influencing work

We use the power of our clients’ voices and our operational expertise to influence change at a national level to end homelessness.

Our influencing work

We use the power of our clients’ voices and our operational expertise to influence change at a national level to end homelessness.

A context of crisis

In 2024 rough sleeping and statutory homelessness are at all time highs. This situation is directly linked to political choices. The cost of living crisis and the lack of affordable and appropriate housing is pushing more and more people onto the streets and making it harder for people to move on from rough sleeping.

Our key asks to Government

Following the General Election on 4 July 2024, we have a new Labour government in the UK.

We are, without a doubt, in a homelessness and rough sleeping crisis.

We’re here to end homelessness, but we cannot do it alone. We want to work constructively with the Government to bring about fundamental change to a system that is failing.

These are our six main asks to the Government to tackle the crisis.

Publications and research

St Mungo’s facilitates research on issues relating to homelessness as well as policy briefings and we respond to government consultations and inquiries.

Working together

We know it is possible to end rough sleeping. But we also know it takes collaboration across the sector and serious political will. We work in partnership with our clients and sector colleagues and partners, we advocate for systemic solutions. Our influencing work is directly shaped by the lessons of people who have lived and worked through homelessness.

Our collaborations with other organisations

Rough Sleeping Initiative Funding

A joint letter to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Budget to request an extension and uplift of Rough Sleeping Initiative funding which is due to end at the end of March 2025

Action needed to improve the public’s health

Joint letter to the Chancellor alongside the Association of Directors of Public Health, highlighting the urgent action needed to improve the nation’s health.

The Women’s Rough Sleeping Census

Joint letter to Angela Rayner MP, Rushanara Ali MP, Jess Phillips MP, Bridget Phillipson MP and Baroness Merron to share the results of the SHP and Solace census.

Repeal the Vagrancy Act

Joint letter to Lucy Powell MP, urging for an end to the criminalisation of homelessness by immediately scrapping the Vagrancy Act.

Refugee homelessness accommodation

A joint letter to the Home Secretary calling for and extension of the move-on period from 28 days to at least 56 days in asylum accommodation.

Build more social homes

A joint letter co-ordinated by NHF as part of the #PlanForHousing campaign, focusing on the impact of poor, unstable housing on children.

Social housing allocation

A CIH joint letter to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State, expressing concerns around the “British homes for British workers” scheme and lack of social housing.

Refugee health concerns

A joint letter led by Pathway, medics and homelessness charities call for a reversal of asylum policy due to significant health risks and NHS pressures.

Spring Budget funding for services

An open letter to Jeremy Hunt MP, calling for additional funding for homelessness to be released in the Spring Budget to help services stay afloat.

Homelessness and asylum

Joint letter to party leaders to call for designing homelessness out of the asylum and immigration system.

Amend the Criminal Justice Bill

Joint letter to James Cleveley MP urging amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill which would have led to the criminalisation of people rough sleeping.

Preventing Women's homelessness

Ahead of the 2024 election, a joint letter with Single Homeless Project and Solace to government calling to put women's homelessness on the agenda.

Build more social homes

Co-ordinated by Shelter, a joint letter to party leaders, Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Ed Davey. Supporting the support the Made in Social Housing campaign.

Homelessness and asylum

Joint letter co-ordinated by Homeless Link to party leaders, discussing the 27% rise in rough sleeping in 2023 and 60% over the past two years.

Impact of Private Rented Sector on Homelessness

A joint letter with Commonweal on the urgent action required to improve and enable move-on from homelessness services to the Private Rented Sector

The Kerslake Commission

In 2021 St Mungo’s became the Secretariat for the Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping. Chaired by the late Lord Bob Kerslake, the Commission examined the lessons from the emergency response during the Covid-19 pandemic, which achieved a 37% reduction in the number of people sleeping rough in England.

Our influencing work

Our influencing work

A context of crisis

Our key asks to Government

Publications and research

Working together

Our collaborations with other organisations

Rough Sleeping Initiative Funding

Action needed to improve the public’s health

The Women’s Rough Sleeping Census

Repeal the Vagrancy Act

Refugee homelessness accommodation

Build more social homes

Social housing allocation

Refugee health concerns

Spring Budget funding for services

Homelessness and asylum

Amend the Criminal Justice Bill

Preventing Women's homelessness

Build more social homes

Homelessness and asylum

Impact of Private Rented Sector on Homelessness

The Kerslake Commission

Resource Library