Amidst a deepening homelessness crisis in Liverpool, opposition leaders have joined forces, increasing pressure on the city council to convene an emergency meeting urgently. The crisis has witnessed a stark 50% rise in rough sleeper numbers over the past year, leaving hundreds without homes and resorting to emergency accommodation.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Liverpool Council leader has classified it as an ’emergency.’ The leader has twice written urgently to Local Government Secretary, seeking immediate funding to tackle the crisis, especially as temperatures plummet during the winter months.
However, the council’s opposition leader, a member of the Liberal Democrats, is advocating for more immediate action. He had previously called for an emergency council meeting to formulate a comprehensive response to the crisis. Unfortunately, the earliest proposed date for such a meeting is January 17, a timeline deemed unacceptable given the urgency of the issues at hand.
In response to the delayed meeting date, the opposition leader has garnered support from all other opposition group leaders in Liverpool. In a joint letter addressed to the Lord Mayor and Councillor, the leader, along with Green group leader, Liberal chief, and the head of the Liverpool Community Independents group, calls for an expedited meeting.
“We are writing to you jointly to once again urge you to bring forward the date of the extraordinary meeting on homelessness in our city,” states the opposition leader in the letter. He emphasizes the urgency of the matter by referencing a recent tragedy in Manchester, where a man was found dead in a shop doorway amid plummeting temperatures.
Expressing disappointment at the administration’s response, the opposition leader states, “We’ve been deeply disappointed at the administration’s reaction, despite their own leader calling the current situation an emergency. They seem to be displeased that we’ve called a meeting.”
The opposition leader contends that the homelessness issue “cannot wait” until the next scheduled meeting. He underscores the severity of the crisis, citing funding shortages and new challenges arising from the eviction of asylum seekers from temporary accommodation. With the arrival of a bitterly cold winter, the situation is deemed the very definition of urgent.
Having accompanied the outreach team from the Whitechapel Centre homelessness charity in Liverpool, the opposition leader acknowledges the vital work being done to support the homeless and rough sleepers. He attributes the current crisis to the failings of central government and the existing council administration.
“We shouldn’t have to wait over 50 days to discuss such an urgent issue. We need to come together to find practical and real solutions for our city,” asserts the opposition leader. He calls for immediate steps, including reinstating the Housing Committee, and urges the council to move the meeting date forward to address the issue promptly.
Council leader, however, has accused the opposition and its members of “manufacturing a political row” over the meeting date. The leader contends that the opposition missed the opportunity to put forward a motion on homelessness at the last full council meeting. A housing committee member also highlights that the homelessness crisis was recently discussed at a council neighborhoods committee.
As the debate intensifies, the fate of Liverpool’s homeless population hangs in the balance. The collaboration of opposition leaders signals a united front against a crisis that demands swift and decisive action. The call for an emergency meeting reflects a shared commitment to finding immediate solutions and addressing the pressing needs of the city’s most vulnerable residents. The coming weeks will reveal whether political differences can be set aside in the pursuit of a common goal: providing relief for those left stranded in the cold streets of Liverpool.
