A few weeks ago, Birmingham’s Hodge Hill MP Liam Byrne joined me as we held a food bank collection at Sainsbury’s in Wolverhampton.
We set up this collection outside one of the city’s biggest supermarkets. I’m no stranger to the plight of homelessness and hunger having worked at YMCA Black Country Group before going in to politics.
The UK is the fifth-largest economy in the world, we should not have people starving in this country. People in Wolverhampton are extremely kind and giving, Liam and I saw the fruits of that kindness during the food bank. Food bank donations were coming in fast and there was a real concern with shoppers about homelessness. I’d like to thank everyone for their donations but the real change to ensure we end homelessness needs to come from central Government. The Government’s policies, which see the most vulnerable being stripped of their benefits that they desperately need are impacting people in such a terrible way.
All the donations were donated to the Good Shepherd Services who operate a seven-day week operation to tackle hunger and homelessness in Wolverhampton.
This comes amid the news that Wolverhampton Council is set to spend £718,000 on tackling homelessness across the city and offer with a more flexible and responsive service.