Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE, founder of the Homeless Friendly charity, has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham's commitment to eradicating rough sleeping and making it a national priority for his new Government.
As Prime Minister Andy Burnham sets out his vision for the country, Dr Chauhan said his longstanding commitment to tackling homelessness gives hope that meaningful progress can now be made at a national level.
He said: "Prime Minister Andy Burnham has consistently shown real leadership on tackling homelessness, and I warmly welcome his powerful statement and continued commitment to ending rough sleeping. His hard work and determination over many years are deeply appreciated.
"Ending rough sleeping is not only a policy priority, but also a moral responsibility. Everyone deserves dignity and a secure place to call home. Access to housing is fundamental to good health, opportunity, and social justice."
Dr Chauhan also reflected on the Prime Minister's longstanding support for Homeless Friendly, the charity he founded to improve access to primary healthcare for people experiencing homelessness.
"When we officially launched Homeless Friendly in 2017, Andy Burnham gave his support to our vision of making GP surgeries Homeless Friendly. He understood that healthcare is a basic human right and that no one should face barriers to accessing a GP because they are homeless. His backing helped raise awareness of the barriers people experiencing homelessness face in accessing healthcare and reinforced the message that everyone deserves compassionate, inclusive primary care."
Since its launch, Homeless Friendly has worked with GP practices and healthcare organisations across the UK to promote inclusive primary care, encouraging surgeries to become Homeless Friendly and ensuring that people experiencing homelessness can access the healthcare they need with dignity and without unnecessary barriers.
Dr Chauhan said that the Prime Minister's renewed focus presents an opportunity for the Government, the NHS, local authorities, housing providers and the voluntary sector to work together to deliver lasting change. He said charities such as Homeless Friendly have an important role to play in supporting the Government's ambition by sharing their experience of improving healthcare access for people experiencing homelessness.
"Ending rough sleeping requires sustained collaboration across every part of society.”
Dr Chauhan added: “Homeless Friendly stands ready to support the Government's efforts by sharing our experience of making GP surgeries more accessible to people experiencing homelessness.
“I hope the Prime Minister's commitment will bring together the Government, the NHS, charities and local communities so that everyone has not only a roof over their head but also access to the healthcare and support they need to rebuild their lives."
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