The idea of fining those who already have so little that they are forced to sleep out in the cold or ask for food and money is a cruel and heartless act. This is attacking vulnerable persons and does not aid in resolving the homeless issues, instead it makes the situation worse. Fixing Penalty Notices can be issued by the Council and fines of £50 imposed. Failure to pay these fines can lead to prosecution that will criminalise those already vulnerable in society. Efforts should be made to help these people so that they don't need to beg. Other campaigns have successfully halted other councils from imposing similar fines. This campaign is based on this information from Worthing council's website: https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/safer-communities/pspo/ If you have anything that suggests that Northampton Council are no longer planning to fine people for begging then we'd love to hear more from you, drop us an email at [email protected]

Because letting rough sleepers remain on our streets could kill them. It is inhumane and lacking in basic compassion

Since this Government was first elected in 2010 they have had an ideological agenda to attack the most vulnerable in society, The cuts to social care being one of them. Norfolk county council are proposing to make cuts to the sheltered housing warden service to balance their books in the coming year. The people who use this service are some of the most vulnerable in the county, It is absolutely vital in keeping these extremely vulnerable people in a safe environment and helping them lead more fuller, happier lives. The county council believe this will save money but it will not. In fact - A warden can keep 60 residents in a safe environment for 12 months for the same cost of keeping 1 resident in a larger home and still isolated. A warden costs around £450 a week servicing up to 60 residents. The cost of just one person going into a care home is around £600 per week. We urge the County Council to take in to account the social and economic benefits that this service provides and reconsider these proposed cuts.

All night these places are warmed and empty! They have washing and toilet facilities. Healthcare professionals could also attend to see to their needs. At 8am they can have the areas back. It will help those poor souls who are sleeping in cold wet damp doorways.

Because the hard working families that claim no benefits and struggle to make ends meet are being targeted yet again and penalised for working. Currently the household earning limit for out of London is set to £31,000 per annum on this scheme. Many families will earn over this low amount, especially those that commute back into London. This is an unrealistic level. Many will be faced with a £260 a month increase - families that can't claim any other benefits are now being put into poverty.

Because many people want to buy their own homes but cannot afford the monthly repayments set over a 25-30 yr agreement.

There is, and has been for decades, an ongoing housing crisis which should be viewed as a national disgrace in a civilised society that claims to be the fifth or sixth largest economy in the world. Politicians of all parties, and the executive branch of government, are all culpable. There needs to be a demonstrable national consensus that this must change. The proposal that this petition puts in front of the Chancellor would, if supported by large numbers of citizens, make it clear that such a consensus does exist and that action must be taken by those who have the power to do so.

Many tenants are being evicted from their housing association houses and forced to rent privately. Most of the tenants are in work and have paid their rent on time. The private sector landlords are asking these tenants to have an guarantor. Where can they find these guarantors? They are not students or are wanting to leave home. These people are finding themselves homeless because of this. Do not volunteer to be a guarantor as the risk becomes all yours, not the landlord or tenants. Landlords can get insurance to cover the possibility of rent arrears but this perk isn't available to guarantors.

People who have paid their rent, paid their bills never caused any issues being forced out of their homes by greedy companies making millions by buying social housing then re renting them back to local councils who then use them to house homeless people. So effectively making people homeless to house the homeless

It is important as the shortage in housing means that people are having to remain in temporary accommodation longer however they are not getting the same treatment and entitled to the same rights as those in short term or long term tennancies,for example repairs are substandard and they are suffering with a lack of standard thermal comfort.

'I, Daniel Blake' is the most important British film of this millennium, highlighting many pressing issues such as - the absurd inhumanity of benefits bureaucracy - how revenge evictions can have disastrous knock-on effects - how the housing crisis impacts many children's educations and upbringings by forcing them to change schools - the shameful prevalence of food bank dependency, and - how some single mothers are forced into sex work through sheer desperation the film should be mandatory viewing for anyone who cares at all about the plight of their neighbour. 'Cathy Come Home' made a huge impact 50 years ago by igniting public consciousness of homelessness, ultimately leading to the creation of Crisis. it was able to have such a profound effect because it was broadcast to the nation on BBC1; it is imperative that Loach's final film be given the same platform today with over 3,500 people sleeping rough, over 73,000 homeless households living in temporary accommodation (of which more than 20,000 were forced to relocate), and more than 1.1 million three-day food supplies given out last year by Trussell Trust food banks alone, our country is truly in crisis as TV licensees, we demand that the BBC plays its part in highlighting the severity of the situation, by acquiring the rights to broadcast 'I, Daniel Blake' at the earliest possible oppportunity

John Paterson and his brother have been farmers on the Isle of Arran for more than 20 years. They provide more than just produce to feed the economy and jobs so that local families may thrive, but they are a social hub and a part of Scottish heritage. Working farmland is not just important to the families that live and work there, but to the entire community. They now face eviction because of poorly written legislation, allowing landlords to take back land promised to tenant farming families, forcing the tenants onto the streets with no compensation, nowhere to go, with nothing, completely alone. When Andrew Stoddart, a tenant farmer in East Lothian, was faced with a similar eviction last year, 38 Degrees members came together to demand that the Scottish Government step in. 20,000 of us put our names to it, and together we forced the Government to intervene and make sure Andrew Stoddart got a better deal. We are calling on the Scottish Government to step in here too.