Focus4Hope’s CEO and founder Louise Reed works with West Yorkshire’s most vulnerable people, including those who are homeless. Here’s her message for Andy Burnham.

1. Prevent homelessness – don’t just react to it.

The fallout that follows homelessness, including addiction, plummeting mental health and exploitation, is far more costly in human and financial terms than prevention. But short‑term funding cycles mean charities, councils and outreach teams like ours are firefighting rather than making meaningful progress. With stable investment and preventative policies, we could plan ahead and intervene before someone reaches crisis point.

2. Take national action on the cost of living, especially food insecurity.

Food insecurity is putting people at breaking point. It’s now one of the fastest‑growing drivers of homelessness, with families forced to choose between feeding themselves and paying rent. We need national leadership, a central government strategy, and funding.

3. Improved access to mental health support, especially for teenagers and young adults.

I see daily how untreated trauma can quickly escalate into homelessness. I was contacted by Simon on the Streets about a young man sleeping in a car who hadn't eaten for two days and was in a really bad way. He’d gone from being a working guy to slipping into homelessness, and he told me he’d given up and had no hope left. That conversation still haunts me and I knew he was at high risk of taking his own life. We managed to get him some supplies and get him into a hotel, and from there we built his confidence up. He’s now in the process of getting his own place, but if he'd been left any longer he’d have ended up either dead or being exploited by gangs or criminals. He's been for a job interview today and his wellbeing has lifted massively.

Early mental health support - particularly for young people - is one of the strongest predictors of preventing homelessness later in life. We need accessible, youth‑focused mental health services that intervene early, not after crisis hits.

4. Fund joined‑up working so people don’t fall through the gaps.

Homeless people often bounce between housing teams, mental health services, addiction support, job centres and charities with no single organisation responsible for coordinating care. But so much more’s possible with proper funding and shared systems. A woman we recently helped was living in a Leeds encampment and being exploited by a male rough sleeper. She’d been bitten by a dog, was extremely frail, and dealing with the consequences of mental and physical abuse. We worked with other Leeds agencies to get her into a better living situation and she’s now in a women’s refuge. Without that join-up, I dread to think what would have happened to her, but that type of collaboration’s the exception, not the rule.

5. Stronger protections for renters, and more social housing.

Section 21 ‘no‑fault’ evictions are a major driver of homelessness, and enforcing the ban must be a priority. But we also need a major expansion of social housing to address the housing crisis. Without it, homelessness will continue to rise.


The statistics speak for themselves:
117,400 households in temporary accommodation — the highest ever recorded
4,793 people rough sleeping on a single night in autumn 2025
Rough sleeping 96% higher than in 2021 and 171% higher than in 2010
Every number is a person losing their home, a family having to live in a single room, a child growing up in a B&B.

My challenge

We’re doing everything we can on the frontline – we need a government willing to match our effort with long‑term investment and a clear strategy that recognises homelessness as a national emergency.

Homelessness is NOT inevitable – it’s the result of political choices, and it can be reduced through political courage. The question is, do you have that courage?

Focus4Hope is a West Yorkshire charity that supports vulnerable people through crisis intervention, community outreach, and practical help. The organisation is approaching its 10th anniversary – tickets for its fundraising ball can be purchased at focus4hope.co.uk/events/