Cardinal Nichols Vows To Work With Government Over 'Scourge' Of Homelessness

Cardinal Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, spoke at the reception in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

Cardinal Nichols has vowed to work with Theresa May's government to tackle the "scourge that is homelessness".

The Archbishop of Westminster welcomed what he said were "considerable amounts of money" announced by the minister for homelessness Marcus Jones at a reception in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

"One homeless person is one too many," said Nichols, who is head of the Catholic Church in the UK. "Obviously when the government gets behind this kind of effort it is really helpful," he told Christian Today.

"We in the Catholic community are well placed to act in partnerships."

The number of people sleeping rough in England has doubled since 2010 and rose by 30 per cent in the last year alone. An estimated 3,569 people sleep on the streets on any one night, official figures have revealed.

Homelessness charities called the figures "scandalous" and "shocking" and have written to the Prime Minster to urge a new national rough sleeping strategy.

Cardinal Nichols refused to pin the blame solely on government cuts and told Christian Today there were "a whole range of complex reasons" why people end up on the streets.

"An awful lot of this begins with the breakdown of relationships," he said, but acknowledged "the patterns has been of decreased funding given to local authorities".

Cuts had meant the work had fallen to local charities, said Nichols, adding it was "a great tribute to the charities they have risen to this challenge".

"This is love in action," Nichols said at a reception in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon organised by the Catholic network CSAN.

"Caring for those who fall victim to economic and social systems that can so easily remain heartless unless they are enlivened by a sense of moral purpose and generosity."

Last week the government said it would support Bob Blackman MP's homelessness reduction private member's bill.

Nichols said the move was "helpful" and welcomed the announcement of several funds from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to tackle homelessness.

Marcus Jones, a junior minister in DCLG, said £250m was being given to local authorities for homelessness prevention programmes and a further £100m for more affordable homes.

He also announced a £40m package charities could apply for to fight rough sleeping.

"While we have, compared to some other countries, a very strong safety net in this country, there is still far more we have to do," he said

"I can assure you this government is determined to tackle the scourge that is homelessness and improve the lives of the most vulnerable."