REDDITCH MP Chris Bloore has joined a coalition of over 100 homelessness, housing and youth organisations calling for a dedicated youth chapter in the Government’s forthcoming cross-departmental homelessness strategy.
Mr Bloore attended an event in Parliament Square, organised by the Youth Homeless Chapter campaign.
The gathering brought together young people with lived experience of homelessness and frontline organisations including Centrepoint and YMCA England and Wales, in a united call for tailored action to tackle the growing crisis of youth homelessness.
New figures reveal that 118,134 young people aged 16 to 24 were homeless or at risk of homelessness in the UK in 2023/24 – 10 per cent increase on the previous year.
Many of these young people are affected by family breakdown, domestic abuse or financial hardship, often worsened by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
At the event, Mr Bloore met with young campaigners, heard their moving testimonies and took part in a photo opportunity with a newly published book showcasing their stories. He pledged to take their voices into Parliament by tabling written questions and pushing for youth-specific provisions in the upcoming strategy.
Speaking after the event, Chris Bloore MP said: “No young person in Redditch or anywhere in the UK should be without a safe and secure home.
“The stories I heard in Parliament Square were heartbreaking—but also deeply inspiring. These young people have shown immense courage and deserve a voice in shaping the policies that affect them.
“I’ll be pushing for a dedicated youth chapter in the Government’s strategy and raising parliamentary questions to press for urgent action on affordable youth housing and better access to employment support.
“This is about more than housing—it’s about giving every young person the opportunity to thrive, not just survive.”
The Youth Homeless Chapter coalition is calling for dedicated, affordable youth housing, Jobcentre support located in supported housing and targeted, cross-departmental support tailored to young people’s distinct needs.
With the Government’s national homelessness strategy due in the coming months, campaigners are urging MPs across all parties to ensure young people are not overlooked in the policy response.
