Two Exeter organisations working with some of the city’s most vulnerable people have had their work highlighted in Parliament.
The city’s Labour MP Steve Race brought up their work during Prime Minister’s Questions as he commended Andy Burnham on his commitment to end rough sleeping. Mr Burnham also hosted a rough sleeping ‘summit’ in Downing Street.
During the questions session Mr Race told fellow MPs: “I have fantastic organisations such as St Petrock’s and CoLab in Exeter that help people who end up on the street but who have very complex needs that require wraparound services such as addiction treatment and trauma support.
“Does the Prime Minister agree with me that, alongside a roof over their heads, we need to rebuild the wraparound support system for people that were so dismantled under the previous Government?”
In response, the Prime Minister said he agreed, and added: “I do not think we should accept in this country that anybody should spend even one night sleeping rough on the streets.
“I said when I walked up Downing Street coming into office that I wanted to change that and wanted to bring an end to rough sleeping. We are increasingly confident that everyone will get an offer of support before the Christmas break. I hope everybody will get behind this national drive.”
The pledge to offer everyone who needs it a route off the streets by Christmas has already been backed by a cash pledge of £874million, which will extend support until the end of the current parliament.
Mr Race said: “As MP for Exeter, tackling rough sleeping has been one of my major priorities.
“I’m really grateful that the Prime Minister has set a high bar of getting everyone in by Christmas and is allocating significant funding to help Exeter City Council and our local organisations to help us achieve that here in our city.
“Anyone working with people sleeping rough will know that it’s not just a roof over their head that they need – it can also require wraparound support for trauma and addiction. The previous Conservative Government dismantled this network of support, but I know that the Prime Minister is committed to addressing the complex reasons why people find themselves homeless.
“Working together, we can deal with these root-causes of rough sleeping and give people the opportunities they need to get back on their feet.”
St Petrocks staff prepare breakfasts and lunches for people on the streets, and also provide showers, laundry facilities, weekly mental health clinics, survival equipment and clothing, most of which is donated by local people.
The use of phone, internet and a computer is also available at its centre in Cathedral Yard.
CoLab, which supports people with complex needs, recently celebrated 10 years of service to the city.
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