Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has congratulated Signature Living Boss Lawrence Kenwright on his work on the Kingsway House homeless shelter.
Jeremy Corbyn issued a statement in support of Signature Living’s homeless project and pledged to meet with Lawrence Kenwright to hear about his experiences working with the city’s rough sleepers.
Kingsway House was opened up by the Signature Living hotel boss in December after he expressed his concern for the number of people living on Liverpool’s streets.
Over one hundred people have been supported by staff and volunteers at the shelter which has provided beds, food and medical support.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Jeremy Corbyn welcomed Mr Kenwright’s intervention.
He said: “Homelessness has increased every year under this Tory Government. As a society, we simply cannot carry on walking by on the other side when thousands have no home to call their own.
I welcome all efforts to help those in need. I congratulate Lawrence and his team for their efforts in Liverpool.”
Mr Corbyn’s office has also confirmed that he will meet with Mr Kenwright later this year to talk about his experiences of working with rough sleepers and hear his ideas for supporting those people on the streets with complex needs.
Mr Kenwright will travel to London for the meeting in Mr Corbyn’s Westminster office and will extend the invitation to Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson to join him.
The statement from Jeremy Corbyn comes as senior members of Liverpool Council released images allegedly depicting drug use in the area outside the homeless shelter.
Mr Kenwright said: “The heartbreaking images of homeless people sleeping on cardboard boxes in the freezing weather conditions prompted my decision to open Kingsway House.
I never promised to provide expert help but I knew the city needed support to deal with the crisis. I’ve learned a lot about the plight facing homeless people and the issues they face.
It is truly humbling to have the support of Jeremy Corbyn. It means the world to our volunteers and the people we’re helping at Kingsway House.
The Labour leader certainly values the work we’ve done and the attempts we’ve made to improve the lives of rough sleepers in Liverpool. I’m grateful to Mr Corbyn for his backing and I look forward to meeting him to discuss my experiences. I am also intending to invite Mayor Joe Anderson to the meeting so he can talk to him about the work the City Council is also doing in the face of extreme Government cuts.”