The Big Issue needs you to ask councils to Stop Mass Homelessness

As the end of the furlough scheme and the £20 increase in universal credit grows nearer, now is the time to act to stop mass homelessness in the months ahead.

The Big Issue’s Stop Mass Homelessness campaign has gone from strength to strength in recent weeks, attracting the support of thousands who pledged to sign our petition and take our urgent cause into their local area as a community champion.

Sign our petition to #StopMassHomelessness

Now we are calling on you to ask your local leaders to throw their weight behind our campaign. The Big Issue wants you to email your nearest councillors to call for a motion to debate The Big Issue’s Stop Mass Homelessness campaign at their next council meeting.

It’s simple to ask your councillor to back our motion. Simply send them the email below.

And don’t forget to tell us that you’ve contacted your councillor at SMASSH@bigissue.com. Together we can stop mass homelessness.

Send the following email to your local councillor

Dear Councillor [INSERT NAME]

You are my local Councillor and I am getting in touch to ask if you will support The Big Issue’s #StopMassHomelessness campaign.

This campaign is important to me because when Covid-19 laws put in place to prevent mass evictions and repossessions come to an end this October, more people will be at risk of homelessness.

This will be made worse by the furlough scheme ending and because the universal credit uplift will be reversed. Electricity and gas prices are rising too.

This is a perfect storm of conditions and I am worried that many local people will be made homeless.

We need urgent action to stop local people being made homeless and a long-term plan to support every household.

I am asking you, as my elected representative, to help me in two ways:

1. Sign and share the The Big Issue’s petition
2. Become a councillor champion for our area and take this motion through the council

Thank you for taking the time to read my email. I would be grateful if you could let me know what action you will take to support me and to Stop Mass Homelessness.

Best wishes

[YOUR NAME]

Hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of losing their homes right now. One UK household is being made homeless every three-and-a-half hours.

You can help stop a potential avalanche of homelessness by joining The Big Issue’s Stop Mass Homelessness campaign. Here’s how:

• Read our nine-point plan to Stop Mass Homelessness
• Sign the petition to add your voice to our campaign to Stop Mass Homelessness
• Join the conversation and share your support using the hashtag #StopMassHomelessness