SerpApi.Org
David Taylor, Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead, has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first‑day pledge to end long‑term rough sleeping and the announcement of £340 million in additional funding to tackle homelessness, calling it "a decisive step towards ending rough sleeping and rebuilding lives in communities like Hemel Hempstead".
In a letter to the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner MP, Mr Taylor has highlighted the “exceptional work” of DENS and invited her to Hemel Hempstead to see how national policy is already being delivered on the ground. In 2025, DENS provided 127,923 meals through its foodbank, supported 3,379 stays in emergency accommodation, helped 35 residents move into independent living, and enabled 32 individuals to secure employment – figures which Mr Taylor said “represent not just activity, but real lives rebuilt through sustained, compassionate support”.
The Prime Minister’s announcement of a national drive to end rough sleeping, backed by record investment to provide 1,200 homes and intensive support for at least 3,000 people, builds on Labour’s National Plan to End Homelessness, which is focused on preventing households from becoming homeless in the first place. This prevention‑first approach is mirrored locally by DENS’ work, which combines emergency accommodation with tailored, wraparound support to help people move into secure housing, employment and more stable lives.
Wendy Lewington, Chief Executive at DENS, said: “DENS welcomes the Prime Minister’s pledge and the Government’s Homelessness Strategy, and we fully support the commitment to place prevention at the heart of the approach. We know that breaking the cycle of homelessness requires not only immediate intervention but sustained, preventative programmes that tackle root causes and deliver tailored support. For this to become a reality, there needs to be significant investment in prevention services and ongoing support.'
Mr Taylor said a ministerial visit would be “a valuable opportunity to see how a charity rooted in its community can help deliver the Prime Minister’s ambition to end rough sleeping, and how sustained investment in local services can bring back hope to people who have been let down for too long”.
