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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 27 Jan 2021
No-fault Evictions

"Is there not a very simple way of accepting the fact that, if we pay the rent of people in this period, we can look at the knock-on effect at a particular time? For anybody who slips into homelessness, the cost will double, and sometimes treble. We know the evil …..."
Lord Bird - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 11 Jan 2021
Covid-19: “Everybody In” Scheme

"I commend the Government on their last efforts, which I was involved in. It was a wonderful opportunity to be told about the policy and the work that was going on. Unfortunately, in spite of what the Minister has said, there is no sense of policy, in the sense of …..."
Lord Bird - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 12 Nov 2020
Covid-19 Lockdown: Homelessness and Rough Sleepers

"I do not know whether the Minister has read the Lancet report showing that the work done in the first lockdown led to a saving of 266 lives, that more than 1,000 people were prevented from ending up in hospital, and about 350 from ending up in intensive care. This …..."
Lord Bird - View Speech

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Written Question
Homelessness
Tuesday 3rd November 2020

Asked by: Lord Bird (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support they plan to give to local councils to provide permanent accommodation to those at risk of homelessness.

Answered by Lord Greenhalgh

As part of the Government’s investment of £433 million to deliver 6,000 new homes for rough sleepers by the end of this Parliament, on 29 October we announced that more than 3,300 new long-term homes for rough sleepers and other vulnerable people have been approved, subject to due diligence and contracting.

Backed by Government investment of more than £150 million the new homes will be made available in every region of England. This will enable people who sleep rough, or at risk of sleeping rough, to be rehoused in secure, long-term accommodation, providing some of the most vulnerable in society with a permanent place to live and help to rebuild their lives.

This funding is in addition to the £91.5 million allocated to 274 councils in September to fund their individual local plans for rough sleepers over the coming months, and to help provide short-term and interim accommodation for vulnerable people, as well as the £10 million Cold Weather Payment for councils to help to keep rough sleepers safe this winter.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 13 Oct 2020
Housing: Rent, Evictions and Covid-19

"My Lords, if we take the bigger issue behind the discussion about evictions, Britain is the only one of the G7 countries that is removing support during the period of Covid-19, ending it at the end of this year. Can we not take a leaf out of the IMF’s recommendation …..."
Lord Bird - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 08 Oct 2020
Housing: Rent and Covid-19

"We should congratulate Shelter on outlining that 60% of people in the rented sector are only one paycheque away from falling into arrears. That is the kind of information we need to work on. I suggest that the Minister speak to the Government. If we are to have a Cockaigne, …..."
Lord Bird - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 24 Sep 2020
End of Eviction Moratorium

"Can the Government accept the fact that, if anybody slips into homelessness, the cost to society and to those individuals of keeping them in homelessness doubles? Can the Government allocate funds so that we keep people in their homes and do not allow them to fall into the miasma of …..."
Lord Bird - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 13 Jul 2020
Homelessness

"To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that there is no increase in homelessness once the ban on evictions is lifted...."
Lord Bird - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 13 Jul 2020
Homelessness

"My Lords, I thank the Minister very much for that encouraging sign. Do the Government know of the Big Issue’s ride out recession alliance, which is bringing players together to help the Government and local authorities so that they can keep people in their homes? If they slip into poverty …..."
Lord Bird - View Speech

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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 18 May 2020
Covid-19: Housing

"I commend the Government on their support of rough sleepers and their categorical promise that they will not put those people back on the streets. Has the Minister looked into the possibility that there may well be half a million people unable to pay their rent or mortgage after the …..."
Lord Bird - View Speech

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