Homelessness Minister Felicity Buchan is set to visit Milton Keynes following an invitation from local MP Ben Everitt on the day he launched a report into commercial to residential conversions.
The Milton Keynes North MP chairs the Housing Market and Housing Delivery All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) and sits on the APPG for Ending Homelessness which had both launched a joint inquiry on the topic.
Following months of evidence collecting and consultations with key witnesses, the report was launched in Parliament today by Ben and APPG for Ending Homelessness chair Bob Blackman MP.
Homelessness charity Crisis spoke at the launch about the role conversions can play in reducing homelessness, and Ben later highlighted this in the House of Commons as he asked the Homelessness Minister to visit one of MK’s charities to discuss this further.
Ben Everitt MP said: “The best way to tackle rough sleeping and homelessness is to increase the supply of houses for people to live in.
“A joint report released today by the APPG for Housing Market and Housing Delivery, which is chaired by me, and the APPG for Ending Homelessness, has found that there are 20,000 houses that we could bring onto the market through conversions.
“Will she meet with me and one of my local charities who are very keen on doing this to discuss how we can take this forward?”
Minister Felicity Buchan responded: “I would be delighted to come to Milton Keynes to meet with you and your local charities.
“I want to reassure the Honourable Gentleman that this Government is absolutely committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing and to ensure that all houses are of a safe and decent standard.
“I look forward to reading in detail the recommendations of the APPGs.”
