Richard Boyd Barrett Urges Debate on Rising Homelessness Among Elderly
Richard Boyd Barrett warned about rising homelessness and an urgent problem affecting older people, citing a Simon community report and an 86-year-old constituent facing possible emergency accommodation. He told the Business Committee he has sought a debate on homelessness in the next short while and asked for a public commitment to hold it.
Immediate concern
The Simon community produced a report identifying a major problem with older people facing the possibility of homelessness. Richard Boyd Barrett highlighted a case from his clinic of an 86-year-old woman who now faces homelessness and potential emergency accommodation amid a monthly increase in people in emergency accommodation.
Request to the Business Committee
He said he has asked at the Business Committee for a debate on homelessness in the next short while and asked whether there will be a public commitment to hold that debate. The request was raised alongside many recent scheduling demands noted in the chamber.
Statements and parliamentary business
He acknowledged numerous recent requests from whips for statements on water and on international developments, and said those statements are being facilitated tomorrow. The remarks framed homelessness alongside other pressing parliamentary business.
Legislation on the weekly schedule
He itemised a busy legislative week including the Home Support Providers Bill, the Copyright and Related Rights Amendment Bill, and the Criminal Law and Civil Law Miscellaneous Provisions Bill. He said the schedule was discussed last Thursday and it will stand.
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As if the monthly increase in the number of people in emergency accommodation isn't bad enough, the Simon community produced a report saying there's a major problem now with older people facing the possibility of homelessness. I've got a woman who's in my clinic at the moment who's 86 years old and she's facing homelessness and possibly emergency accommodation because of this crisis. I have asked at the Business Committee there will be a debate on homelessness in the next short while. Will you commit publicly to having that? I note all the various requests from the various whips. There have been very many requests in the last weeks here and before Christmas in relation to statements on water, statements on international developments. They are all being facilitated tomorrow. We have legislation this week really important in relation to Home Support Providers Bill, Copyright and Related Rights Amendment Bill. And we also have criminal law and civil law miscellaneous provisions bill with a very busy schedule put in place. It was discussed last Thursday and it will stand. Thank you.
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