The streets of London are home to many people who are hungry, homeless and often cannot see a way out of their desperate situation.  Jean Lambert, the capital’s Green MEP, today joined The Passage to help homeless communities get off the streets and re-establish themselves in independent living.

The Passage is London’s largest voluntary sector day centre for homeless and vulnerable people. Helping over 250 men and women every day its mission is to inspire people to change their lives but whilst the number of homeless EU migrants continues to rise, due to a lack of support services from the UK Government, the strain is really beginning to show.

Speaking after her visit to The Passage Jean praised the six Street Link workers making contact with those sleeping rough on a daily basis but warned that whilst The Passage costs more than £3.5million a year to keep the organisation going, half of which is voluntary donations, more support is needed from the Government.

Jean commented; “The Passage provides an essential service for London’s homeless community.  So often people living on the streets want to change their life and make a fresh start but simply don’t have access to support networks or resources that can help with this.

“One in seven people on the streets today are from Eastern Europe and homeless agencies, such as the Passage, are the only places they can gain the advice they need to start life in the UK.  Shelters are being put under increased pressure and without Government support and action this could have devastating effects for the homeless community as a whole. We now need to ensure that those already on the streets get the information and assistance they need, and migrants gain accurate information before they come to London to prevent them ending up on the streets.”

ENDS