We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to ending rough sleeping and the recognition that homelessness must be a national priority. Ambitious leadership, long-term investment and a focus on prevention are essential if we are to create lasting change.
While there is much positive work taking place across Milton Keynes, homelessness remains a significant challenge. Each week, around 10 people experiencing homelessness seek support from us for the first time, and around 200 people access our services. These figures show there is still much more to do.
At UnityMK, we see every day that rough sleeping is only the most visible form of homelessness. Behind every person sleeping outside is a unique story shaped by housing insecurity, health challenges, relationship breakdown, trauma or financial hardship.
Through our homelessness centre, welfare support, winter night shelters and practical services, we provide people with the help they need to move forward - from food, showers and laundry facilities to housing advice, healthcare, counselling and employment support. Last year alone, we served more than 18,000 hot meals and provided almost 2,000 emergency bed spaces.
We know that lasting solutions require more than emergency accommodation. People need safe spaces, trusted relationships and access to the right support at the right time to rebuild their lives.
That is why we are developing the UnityMK Hub in Wolverton. The Hub will create a permanent home for not only our work but space for other agencies and community groups to provide support. A place where people experiencing homelessness can access joined-up support on their path from crisis towards hope and home.
The Hub is becoming even more important as we prepare to leave the ground floor of the Old Bus Station, having been given notice due to the planned redevelopment of the site by Milton Keynes Development Partnership (MKDP). With the support of local people, businesses, trusts and funders, we can ensure people experiencing homelessness continue to receive the support they need, both now and for years to come.
National commitments are important, but lasting change happens in communities. Ending homelessness requires all of us: bringing together local charities, councils, health care providers, businesses and volunteers to create the strong partnerships needed to turn national ambition into real change.
Find out more about the UnityMK Hub here.
Together, we can end homelessness in our city.
