MEP CAMPAIGN ON HOMELESSNESS GATHERS PACE

8.24.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th Apr 2008

Local LibDem MEP Liz Lynne has expressed her delight at the success of a European Parliament campaign on ending street homelessness.

The Written Declaration campaign, which Liz signed, calls for closer EU cooperation by sharing data and best practice to end sleeping rough across the 27-nation bloc by 2015. Now it has been signed by over half of MEPs, it will prompt a European Parliamentary debate.

Speaking today, Liz Lynne MEP, who is Vice President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and author of a recent report on poverty and social exclusion, said:

"This small success is the start of a much bigger movement now needed to get action on street homelessness. The problem is an open sore on the conscience of this country and continent but it can and must be eradicated.

"There are many factors behind homelessness such as a lack of suitable local employment or shortages of affordable accommodation, and these same factors occur in many Member States.

"For this reason, renewed, coordinated efforts across the EU, including sharing of best practice and the latest data with other member States, are vital in the fight to end street homelessness, but often the services which can help turn people's lives around are simply not available.

"I am however delighted that a formal parliamentary debate will now be held as this could be a major step towards helping people turn their lives around and off the streets."