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The Green Answer to Homelessness - Charlie Bolton, 29 April 2005

To: Evening Post

Dear Sir/Madam

I was disappointed but in no way surprised to see your coverage of the hidden homeless of Bristol ('The hidden homeless, 27/4/2005). You gave coverage to the policies of the three main parties, so in the interests of balance, I am sure you will be keen to publish the policies of the Green Party. On the one hand, the Green Party believes in bringing more housing into use. This could mean requiring public bodies to ensure full use of housing stock, or requiring better use of privately owned property where it is empty (with suitable safeguards). Greens would also pay a Citizens income to all adults. This would replace the current benefits system, and avoid the benefits trap, means testing, it would be simple and would be a big transfer of power from employer to worker, and given a basic income to those who are currently forced to beg. Greens believe new affordable homes should be provided by releasing redundant publicly-owned brownfield land to housing associations and co-operatives at no cost and changing planning guidance to require a higher quota of affordable housing in all new developments. We believe these actions would go some way to alleviating the problems of homelessness which we face.

Yours

Charlie Bolton
Bristol South Green Party