Theresa May unveils £40m funding package to prevent and tackle homelessness

Prime Minister Teresa May has chosen the occasion of The Big Issue’s 25th anniversary to announce details of a new £40 million funding package aimed at preventing and tackling the causes of homelessness.

Writing exclusively in Monday’s special anniversary edition, pictured below, the Prime Minister reveals how her government is changing its emphasis ‘to put prevention at the heart of a new approach.’

Mrs May writes: “Just like The Big Issue, I also believe in the power of prevention. We know there is no single cause of homelessness and those at risk can often suffer from complex issues such as domestic abuse, addiction, mental health issues or redundancy.

“So I believe it’s time we changed our approach. We can no longer focus on tackling the symptoms and immediate consequences of homelessness. We need to put prevention at the heart of a new approach.

Writing in this week's Big Issue, PM Theresa May has unveiled a new £40m funding package to prevent homelessness https://t.co/5XxFlaBNSP pic.twitter.com/FnWv9G2E8g

— Big Issue (@BigIssue) October 17, 2016

“As a first step towards this change, I’m announcing a new £40m package to both prevent and tackle the causes of homelessness.

“This will include £20m for local authorities to pilot innovative initiatives to tackle the causes of homelessness – helping to find solutions for families and individuals before they reach crisis point.”

I want to thank the Big Issue for giving so many people affected by homelessness a new sense of purpose

The funding package was welcomed by Nick Bourne – Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, leader of the Welsh Conservatives – during a House of Lords debate on the level of ‘hidden homelessness’ in England.

Meanwhile, the PM also took the opportunity to describe her huge admiration for the organisation and its sellers.

“I want to thank the Big Issue for giving so many people affected by homelessness a new sense of purpose. The magazine has been an incredible force for good in Britain.”

Read more about the new government funding package in our special anniversary edition, out from October 17. If you can’t reach a vendor, or if you are outside of the UK, you can get a copy from The Big Issue Shop.

Also featured in Monday’s bumper anniversary edition includes: Sir Alex Ferguson, Nicola Sturgeon, the Dalai Lama, Andy Murray, Daniel Radcliffe, Julie Walters, Paul Weller, Sadiq Khan, Michael Palin, Grayson Perry, Betty Boothroyd, Benjamin Zephaniah, Street Cat Bob, Joanna Lumley, Arctic Monkeys, Jon Snow, Colin Farrell and many more.