Will Forster

Campaigning to be the Lib Dem MP for Woking, Deputy Leader of Woking Borough Council and Councillor in South Woking Learn more

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Shelter’s homelessness investigation

by willforster on 22 November, 2018

An investigation by the nationwide homeless charity Shelter has reinforced why I was right to choose the York Road Project has my Mayoral Charity.

Shelter’s report ‘Homelessness in Great Britain: the numbers behind the story’ shows that homelessness is increasing across the country, with one in 52 people in the capital now homeless – and Woking is ranked in the top 12 places for homelessness in the South East.

Large increases in homelessness have also affected areas such as the west midlands and the north-west of the country, and the estimated total across Great Britain is believed to be 320,000.

According to Shelter, 402 people are homeless in Woking Borough – 384 of which are in temporary accommodation like B&Bs, bedsits, hostels or ‘sofa surfing’ – and 18 people regularly sleep rough.  Across Surrey, more than 2,300 people are homeless – 2,240 are in temporary accommodation and over 60 sleep on the streets.

It is an absolute disgrace that hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people have been left without a roof over their head.  Having a roof over your head is something most of us take for taken, we all have a duty to make sure everyone, even those that have fallen on tough times has somewhere to call home.

I think it is shameful that in the richest counties in one of the richest countries in the world, we have so many people sleeping rough and homeless – why I chose the York Road Project as my Mayoral Charity.

I am rightly spending much of my time raising money for Woking’s homeless shelter, I hope local businesses and residents back my efforts. Whether it is donating some money, food or clothes, or giving up time and using their skills, everyone can play their part in ending homelessness in Woking.

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