Louise Reed urges UK government to prioritize homelessness prevention

Louise Reed, CEO and founder of the charity Focus4Hope, addressed the Prime Minister and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham with a five‑point plan to tackle rough sleeping in England. She called for stable, long‑term funding to shift from reactive firefighting to preventative measures, and for a national strategy to curb cost‑of‑living pressures and food insecurity, which she said are accelerating homelessness.

Reed highlighted the need for early, youth‑focused mental‑health services, citing a recent case of a young man rescued from a car after days without food. She also urged coordinated, joint‑up working across housing teams, mental‑health providers, addiction services, job centres and charities so vulnerable people do not fall through gaps. Reed’s plea underscores growing concerns about the human and financial costs of homelessness and seeks decisive government action.