Herefordshire launches new Homeless Charter on World Homeless Day

The Charter was launched at a special event held at Community Power’s new Lee’s Place Hub in St Peter’s Square, Hereford today. It was attended by representatives from many of the 30 or so signatory organisations and special guests.

The Charter’s vision is for Herefordshire to be a county where homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurrent - a place where people are empowered to live their best lives. Signatories to the Charter pledge to work collaboratively to help end homelessness in Herefordshire. This means that people:

• Have a safe, secure home
• Have a voice and involvement in determining the solutions to their own issues, to homelessness generally, and in wider society
• Can tell their own story, be listened to, feel that their experience is valued and not be stigmatised through being homeless
• Have equality of access to information and services
• Are able to make safe choices about their own lives, which are respected
• Have the appropriate level of support, where needed, to create a good quality of life and wellbeing
• Have equality of opportunity to employment, training, volunteering, leisure and creative activities
• Are safe from violence, abuse, theft and discrimination, and benefit from the full protection of the law

Speaking at the event, Hilary Hall, Corporate Director of Community Wellbeing at Herefordshire Council, said:

The Charter is a tangible demonstration of the great partnership working that happens daily in Herefordshire to support people experiencing homelessness. It represents a commitment to working together across all sectors to prevent homelessness, support those in need and build a future when no one in our county is left behind.

Christine Price, Chief Officer at Healthwatch Herefordshire, added:

As Chair of the Herefordshire Homelessness Forum, I know that real change only happens when we work together. The Charter is a powerful reminder that ending homelessness is not just about providing housing, but about putting people at the centre – listening to their voices, valuing their experiences, and supporting them to rebuild their lives. At Lee’s Place, we see every day how compassion, collaboration and trust can empower people to move forward. By joining forces across organisations and communities, we can make homelessness in Herefordshire rare, brief, and never repeated.

Councillor Carole Gandy, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing at Herefordshire Council, added:

Thanks to the work of the Herefordshire Homeless Forum we are already working closely with statutory partners, voluntary sector and faith groups to support people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We have made some great progress towards achieving our vision of reducing homelessness in the county so that it is a rare, brief and non-recurrent life event. For example, we have secured additional funding of nearly £10 million over the past five years and have significantly reduced the number of long-term rough sleepers in the county.

By signing the Charter, we are all signalling our commitment to continue with this important work so that all members of our community can live their best lives and have somewhere that they can call ‘home’.

World Homeless Day serves as a platform to celebrate good works, benchmark progress, advocate for improved policies and funding that can help prevent and end homelessness. It aims to raise awareness about the needs of people who currently experience homelessness and promote work in local communities to alleviate suffering and prevent death. For more information, visit the World Homeless Day website.