This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/live/2016/mar/10/a-night-on-the-streets-britains-homeless-crisis-live
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| One night on the street witnessing Britain's homeless crisis – live | One night on the street witnessing Britain's homeless crisis – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.05pm GMT | |
| 22:05 | |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | |
| Of course, rough sleepers are just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands more find themselves one step away from the streets, still homeless but nudged around by authorities from pillar to temporary post. | |
| For many of it may be hard to imagine how this happens. But we’re probably all of us just two or maybe three really bad strokes of luck away from destitution. | |
| Former soldier David Watts told me his story, which again emphasises that homelessness can be as much about bureaucratic bungling, bewildering benefits and bad timing as about anything self-inflicted. | |
| In December 2015 my contract came to an end and I decided to become self employed. I am a qualified sports therapist studying to obtain my personal trainer qualification. I set up my own business in January. | |
| On 4th January 2016 I attended the Margate Gateway Services Centre to ask for help in paying my rent. I was told I couldn’t apply for housing benefit and had to apply for universal credit on line. | |
| I applied on line and was informed that I would be contacted to attend an appointment. | |
| I hadn’t heard anything from for a week so I phoned the help line to which the recorded message tells you if this is a new claim it will take 5 weeks to be processed. | |
| Watts had heard nothing by the end of January, so he spent 2 hours trying to get someone on the phone only to be told there had been an error with his application. He needed to start again. | |
| I phoned them again the following day and eventually spoke to someone and made the application over the phone. Halfway through the application he informed me that as a student and as a self employed person I was not eligible to claim universal credits and had to claim JSA (job seeker’s allowance) and this had to be made online. | |
| I went online to make the application for JSA and on answering the qualifying questions I was informed I was not eligible to claim JSA and that I had to claim Universal credits. | |
| I phoned Job Centre Plus and made an appointment to speak to someone about what I could and couldn’t claim. | |
| I attended the appointment the following week only to be told that because I earned more than £102 a week I wasn’t eligible for income related JSA and that as I was self employed I wasn’t eligible for Universal Credit and that I needed to attend the Gateway Service Centre in Margate to make a claim for housing benefit. | |
| After two months of Kafkaesque toing and froing, Watts was back where he started. Only by now he was nine weeks in arrears. | |
| My landlord had been understanding but now I’ve been told it will take up to two more weeks for the claim to be processed - and there is no guarantee it will be backdated. By then I will be 11 weeks in arrears. | |
| I informed the housing office that I am already 9 weeks behind and now facing the real possibility of being evicted in two weeks due to non payment of rent. I was told if I was made homeless, as a fit healthy male I am not a priority and that if I were made homeless I would just have to deal with it as there was no help available to me. Council housing teams no longer deem homelessness for males who are fit and healthy and able to work as a vulnerability. | |
| So... having joined the army at the age of 16 and 9 months, served 8 years for my country, having worked every day of my life and paid taxes and contributed to the economy, having decided to build my own business and help others get fit to return to employment, I asked for help as I was starting out and needed to pay my rent... only to be given the wrong information action resulting in at present 9 weeks rent arrears, facing the prospect of homelessness and being told by the local council (due to government legislation) basically.... tough, you will just have to deal with it. | |
| Watts is by no means the old army veteran we have been in touch with today... | |
| Updated | |
| at 10.12pm GMT | |
| 9.45pm GMT | |
| 21:45 | |
| Tonight we met... Bill West and Lee Foxall | |
| Josh Halliday | |
| I’ve been speaking to Bill West, 57, and Lee Foxall, 48, both living in hostels after finding themselves on the streets in recent years. Both men had long careers looking after others - Bill as a operating theatre technician in the NHS and Lee as a support worker - until they suffered devastating breakdowns following family bereavements. | |
| They’re bristle at media portrayals of homelessness - drug-addled, drink-addicted beggars, they say - and add that they are proof that anyone can become destitute. | |
| West says: | |
| We get people with autism, strokes, their parents or partners died, peopel who’ve had learning dififculties, so it’s not like what TV says, pretending it’s all drink and drugs. It’s not like that. | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.49pm GMT | |
| 9.42pm GMT | |
| 21:42 | |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | |
| Given the level of anger and accusation below the line, it is only fair to invite the government to respond to allegations that austerity and indifference lie behind this latest crisis. | |
| Marcus Jones is the homelessness minister. He said: | |
| People who find themselves homeless are some of the most vulnerable in our society and it is essential that they get the support they need. | |
| During the last Parliament invested over £500 million to prevent households becoming homeless and we made significant progress so rough sleepers can get back on their feet. | |
| However we remain clear that one person without a home is one too many, which why we have increased central funding for homelessness programmes and protected the homelessness prevention fund that goes to Local Authorities. | |
| Homelessness is more than just a housing issue. Factors such as relationship breakdown, mental health, addictions and employment can all play a part. So we are working across government to consider how to improve services as well as developing a £5 million social impact bond to help the most entrenched rough sleepers move off the streets. | |
| I have seen for myself the fantastic work that outreach teams do to support people off the streets and into independence and rough sleeping projects like No Second Night Out help to ensure that more rough sleepers are found and helped quickly. | |
| If you see anyone sleeping rough, I’d urge you to use the free StreetLink app and website to make sure they get the warmth and support they need.” | |
| Alas, we were not able to follow up and ask why the money has made such little apparent difference. Perhaps parliament will get some answers when the Communities and Local Government Committee considers homelessness at a hearing on Monday. | |
| 9.31pm GMT | 9.31pm GMT |
| 21:31 | 21:31 |
| Amelia Gentleman | Amelia Gentleman |
| Just as worrying: refuse collection companies are reporting a rise in the number of people sleeping in bins. | Just as worrying: refuse collection companies are reporting a rise in the number of people sleeping in bins. |
| The waste management firm Biffa provides a clear insight into the growing problem. Its staff discovered 31 people sleeping in bins in 2014. This rose to 93 in 2015 and then for the current financial year the figure has risen even further – to 175. | The waste management firm Biffa provides a clear insight into the growing problem. Its staff discovered 31 people sleeping in bins in 2014. This rose to 93 in 2015 and then for the current financial year the figure has risen even further – to 175. |
| Industrial waste bins are clearly incredibly dangerous place to sleep. Across the UK, eleven people have been killed in the past five years because of sleeping in bins, according to the company. | Industrial waste bins are clearly incredibly dangerous place to sleep. Across the UK, eleven people have been killed in the past five years because of sleeping in bins, according to the company. |
| Tim Standring, Biffa’s health and safety spokesman, says: | Tim Standring, Biffa’s health and safety spokesman, says: |
| “The more homeless people we get, the more people need to find shelter in waste containers. It is a growing problem for the UK not just our company.” Staff check every bin now before emptying it into their disposal vans. | “The more homeless people we get, the more people need to find shelter in waste containers. It is a growing problem for the UK not just our company.” Staff check every bin now before emptying it into their disposal vans. |
| Another waste management company, Veolia, has been working with homelessness charities to try to educate people about the potentially fatal consequences of sleeping in dustbins. | Another waste management company, Veolia, has been working with homelessness charities to try to educate people about the potentially fatal consequences of sleeping in dustbins. |
| 9.26pm GMT | 9.26pm GMT |
| 21:26 | 21:26 |
| Steven Morris | Steven Morris |
| Here’s an interesting/worrying sign in a car park in Bristol. “Rough sleeping, begging and other anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder will not be tolerated in this car park. Anyone found engaged in these activities will be banned from the premises. If such bans are ignored Bristol city council will seek enforcement by way of a court order, breach of which could lead to a custodial sentence.” | Here’s an interesting/worrying sign in a car park in Bristol. “Rough sleeping, begging and other anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder will not be tolerated in this car park. Anyone found engaged in these activities will be banned from the premises. If such bans are ignored Bristol city council will seek enforcement by way of a court order, breach of which could lead to a custodial sentence.” |
| Thanks to reader John who flagged this one up to us. He said rough sleeping was being “punished”. The notice does go on to offer advice to homeless people but the bottom line is that it does seem to be potentially criminalising rough sleepers. I’ve asked Bristol city council to comment. | Thanks to reader John who flagged this one up to us. He said rough sleeping was being “punished”. The notice does go on to offer advice to homeless people but the bottom line is that it does seem to be potentially criminalising rough sleepers. I’ve asked Bristol city council to comment. |
| 9.21pm GMT | 9.21pm GMT |
| 21:21 | 21:21 |
| Tonight we met... Michal | Tonight we met... Michal |
| Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff | Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff |
| Michal is an example of an east European who hasn’t always found it easy in the UK - but doesn’t want to give up. | Michal is an example of an east European who hasn’t always found it easy in the UK - but doesn’t want to give up. |
| “Today I’m going to find a job,” says Michal optimistically, a service user at Streetwork in Edinburgh. | “Today I’m going to find a job,” says Michal optimistically, a service user at Streetwork in Edinburgh. |
| Michal is one of a number of migrants who have found themselves homeless in the city. Since 2004 and the expansion of the EU, staff members tell me they’ve seen an increase in migrants presenting themselves at the centre, often because they don’t have a support network or any family in the UK. | Michal is one of a number of migrants who have found themselves homeless in the city. Since 2004 and the expansion of the EU, staff members tell me they’ve seen an increase in migrants presenting themselves at the centre, often because they don’t have a support network or any family in the UK. |
| Staff laugh as they tell me about their troubles with spelling Eastern European surnames, and one of the receptionists, who is a native Polish speaker, is constantly in demand. | Staff laugh as they tell me about their troubles with spelling Eastern European surnames, and one of the receptionists, who is a native Polish speaker, is constantly in demand. |
| My partner still lives in Poland,” says Michal, who became homeless shortly after moving back to the UK a month ago and losing his job. “She’s waiting for me. I’m too embarrassed to call her and tell her I have no money. I was so unlucky, just before I lost my job I sent all of my savings back home.” | My partner still lives in Poland,” says Michal, who became homeless shortly after moving back to the UK a month ago and losing his job. “She’s waiting for me. I’m too embarrassed to call her and tell her I have no money. I was so unlucky, just before I lost my job I sent all of my savings back home.” |
| Having worked in Dundee four years ago, Michal only returned to the UK because he struggled to find employment at home. He’s adamant that he doesn’t want to “stay here and claim benefits”, but says that he was forced into accessing Streetwork’s services or else he could have found himself sleeping rough. | Having worked in Dundee four years ago, Michal only returned to the UK because he struggled to find employment at home. He’s adamant that he doesn’t want to “stay here and claim benefits”, but says that he was forced into accessing Streetwork’s services or else he could have found himself sleeping rough. |
| Streetwork have been helping Michal with his CV, and he nervously shows me a copy of it, wondering if it looks professional enough. | Streetwork have been helping Michal with his CV, and he nervously shows me a copy of it, wondering if it looks professional enough. |
| Yesterday I spoke to many people and there’s a lot of jobs going, but they want to see my CV, so today I’ve prepared it,” he says. “The ideal job would be in construction or on a farm out in the countryside.” | Yesterday I spoke to many people and there’s a lot of jobs going, but they want to see my CV, so today I’ve prepared it,” he says. “The ideal job would be in construction or on a farm out in the countryside.” |
| However, Michal studied history in Poland and has a passion for the Middle Ages. | However, Michal studied history in Poland and has a passion for the Middle Ages. |
| There’s no Polish schools here, and my English isn’t good enough to teach British people but I liked learning about the bloody battles and I like video games of battles too - some men never grow up!” | There’s no Polish schools here, and my English isn’t good enough to teach British people but I liked learning about the bloody battles and I like video games of battles too - some men never grow up!” |
| 9.12pm GMT | 9.12pm GMT |
| 21:12 | 21:12 |
| The migrant factor | The migrant factor |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | Mark Rice-Oxley |
| There’s been plenty below the line tonight to suggest that people think a key cause of this homeless spike is immigration, so let’s focus on that for a few minutes. | There’s been plenty below the line tonight to suggest that people think a key cause of this homeless spike is immigration, so let’s focus on that for a few minutes. |
| The truth, as ever, is far more nuanced, as the Guardian’s Amelia Gentleman reports: | The truth, as ever, is far more nuanced, as the Guardian’s Amelia Gentleman reports: |
| There’s a lot of confusion about whether the sharp rise in rough sleeping is the result of migration to the UK or not – and partly this is because the official figures don’t tell us. Many charities are seeing a steep rise in UK rough sleepers, as well as recording higher numbers from outside the country, but it is hard to do a reliable breakdown of what proportion of rough sleepers are from the UK and how many are from elsewhere, because outside London there are no government statistics. | There’s a lot of confusion about whether the sharp rise in rough sleeping is the result of migration to the UK or not – and partly this is because the official figures don’t tell us. Many charities are seeing a steep rise in UK rough sleepers, as well as recording higher numbers from outside the country, but it is hard to do a reliable breakdown of what proportion of rough sleepers are from the UK and how many are from elsewhere, because outside London there are no government statistics. |
| In London there is a detailed annual survey, the Chain reports [http://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/chain-reports] reveal that 43% of recorded rough sleepers in 2014-15 were from the UK, while 35% were from Central and Eastern European countries. After the UK, Romania was the next most frequently recorded country of origin, with 18.7%, of the total, followed by Poland, at 9.6%. But it’s more complicated than that, because these figures may overstate the non-UK population, since most migrant rough sleepers aren’t eligible for help with housing or hostels (they aren’t eligible for housing benefit) so they are likely to be on the streets for longer than UK nationals, who can in theory be helped into emergency accommodation. | In London there is a detailed annual survey, the Chain reports [http://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/chain-reports] reveal that 43% of recorded rough sleepers in 2014-15 were from the UK, while 35% were from Central and Eastern European countries. After the UK, Romania was the next most frequently recorded country of origin, with 18.7%, of the total, followed by Poland, at 9.6%. But it’s more complicated than that, because these figures may overstate the non-UK population, since most migrant rough sleepers aren’t eligible for help with housing or hostels (they aren’t eligible for housing benefit) so they are likely to be on the streets for longer than UK nationals, who can in theory be helped into emergency accommodation. |
| A lot of Romanian rough sleepers in the capital are working, but too poor to afford rent, according to the annual Crisis Homelessness Monitor report [http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/homelessnessmonitor.html]. Outreach workers in London describe meeting Romanian rough sleepers who are working for agencies sub-contracted to provide refuse collection and street cleaning services for London councils – cleaning the streets that they are sleeping on. Others are working as cheap day labourers for builders, for as little as £15 a day, and sleeping rough at night because renting is unaffordable. | A lot of Romanian rough sleepers in the capital are working, but too poor to afford rent, according to the annual Crisis Homelessness Monitor report [http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/homelessnessmonitor.html]. Outreach workers in London describe meeting Romanian rough sleepers who are working for agencies sub-contracted to provide refuse collection and street cleaning services for London councils – cleaning the streets that they are sleeping on. Others are working as cheap day labourers for builders, for as little as £15 a day, and sleeping rough at night because renting is unaffordable. |
| There is funding to help European rough sleepers return home. | There is funding to help European rough sleepers return home. |
| If it is clear that work is not realistic for a number of reasons (support needs around mental health, substance misuse or simply lack of language, skills and social skills) we will always try to help people make the big decision to reconnect to their home countries,” Eammon Egerton, an outreach worker with St Mungo’s, explains. | If it is clear that work is not realistic for a number of reasons (support needs around mental health, substance misuse or simply lack of language, skills and social skills) we will always try to help people make the big decision to reconnect to their home countries,” Eammon Egerton, an outreach worker with St Mungo’s, explains. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.16pm GMT | at 9.16pm GMT |
| 9.06pm GMT | 9.06pm GMT |
| 21:06 | 21:06 |
| Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff | Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff |
| The Homeless World Cup is set to be held in Glasgow in July of this year, and yesterday trials were announced for the team which will take place in later this month and into April. | The Homeless World Cup is set to be held in Glasgow in July of this year, and yesterday trials were announced for the team which will take place in later this month and into April. |
| The annual football tournament sees more than 70 countries taking part and is one of the few football competitions where Scotland excel - winning the cup both in 2007 and 2011. | The annual football tournament sees more than 70 countries taking part and is one of the few football competitions where Scotland excel - winning the cup both in 2007 and 2011. |
| However, David Duke, who heads up the Scottish team as part of his organisation, Street Soccer, says that what’s more important to him is the work he and his fellow staff members and volunteers do every day. | However, David Duke, who heads up the Scottish team as part of his organisation, Street Soccer, says that what’s more important to him is the work he and his fellow staff members and volunteers do every day. |
| We’ve got 30 programmes a week and we’re servicing over 100 players,” says David, “We work with people affected by poverty and often homelessness. It’s super diverse, from 16-year-old girls to 68 year old men from Latvia!” | We’ve got 30 programmes a week and we’re servicing over 100 players,” says David, “We work with people affected by poverty and often homelessness. It’s super diverse, from 16-year-old girls to 68 year old men from Latvia!” |
| I’ve met David, and Ally Dawson - a former Rangers player who works for Street Soccer in Glasgow and will be coaching the Homeless Scotland team this year - at Leith Community Centre, at one of their drop-in sessions. David has been playing a match with some of the boys (and one girl) who have turned up. | I’ve met David, and Ally Dawson - a former Rangers player who works for Street Soccer in Glasgow and will be coaching the Homeless Scotland team this year - at Leith Community Centre, at one of their drop-in sessions. David has been playing a match with some of the boys (and one girl) who have turned up. |
| We have drop in events like this one which anyone can come down to. Once they’re engaged with it, they have personal development training, and they can progress to being volunteers. | We have drop in events like this one which anyone can come down to. Once they’re engaged with it, they have personal development training, and they can progress to being volunteers. |
| I set it up in 2009 and because I’d experienced homelessness in my early 20s. It was after my Dad passed away and I had cut myself off from friends and family. I actually played at the Homeless World Cup,” David says. | I set it up in 2009 and because I’d experienced homelessness in my early 20s. It was after my Dad passed away and I had cut myself off from friends and family. I actually played at the Homeless World Cup,” David says. |
| Our aim is to inspire change, promote change and let the people who play be in control of it.” | Our aim is to inspire change, promote change and let the people who play be in control of it.” |
| Ally and David take me through to where a match is being played in the main hall at the centre. “Should have brought your trainers,” Ally says, his eyes immediately swivelling to watch the game. Check out Street Soccer Scotland on Twitter: @streetsoccerSCO | Ally and David take me through to where a match is being played in the main hall at the centre. “Should have brought your trainers,” Ally says, his eyes immediately swivelling to watch the game. Check out Street Soccer Scotland on Twitter: @streetsoccerSCO |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.07pm GMT | at 9.07pm GMT |
| 8.54pm GMT | 8.54pm GMT |
| 20:54 | 20:54 |
| Tonight we met... Ray Braithwaite | Tonight we met... Ray Braithwaite |
| Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
| Ray Braithwaite has dropped by for some hot food with his girlfriend. The 40-year-old has been in Harrogate for 22 years, moving here from Grimsby. | Ray Braithwaite has dropped by for some hot food with his girlfriend. The 40-year-old has been in Harrogate for 22 years, moving here from Grimsby. |
| The port town which has any drug you could want to lay your hands on,” he said. Braitwaite was in care by the time he was eight, and spent his first night out on the streets aged 13. | The port town which has any drug you could want to lay your hands on,” he said. Braitwaite was in care by the time he was eight, and spent his first night out on the streets aged 13. |
| I started taking drugs when I was 12, and I was 33 when I decided I needed to sort my life out. I’d seen it all by that point. Now on the streets I’m seeing the generation below me. The sons of the people I knew, I don’t want to see that. I want to help them, I just wish there was something I could do.” | I started taking drugs when I was 12, and I was 33 when I decided I needed to sort my life out. I’d seen it all by that point. Now on the streets I’m seeing the generation below me. The sons of the people I knew, I don’t want to see that. I want to help them, I just wish there was something I could do.” |
| His former partner died six years ago, a woman Braithwaite credits with showing him there was more to life than cycles of drugs and prison sentences. | His former partner died six years ago, a woman Braithwaite credits with showing him there was more to life than cycles of drugs and prison sentences. |
| She was the breath of fresh air I needed. I didn’t know how to ask for help until I met her. | She was the breath of fresh air I needed. I didn’t know how to ask for help until I met her. |
| Recently local residents had complained about anti-social behaviour, and Braithwaite said he had taken himself along to the local town meeting to put across the perspective of the homeless. | Recently local residents had complained about anti-social behaviour, and Braithwaite said he had taken himself along to the local town meeting to put across the perspective of the homeless. |
| It took me a long time to get to speak, but they finally saw me with my hand up and I spoke. And they had to acknowledge they don’t know it’s just homeless people urinating in public or causing the trouble. People are blinkered sometimes, they look through you and think you’re a bum. | It took me a long time to get to speak, but they finally saw me with my hand up and I spoke. And they had to acknowledge they don’t know it’s just homeless people urinating in public or causing the trouble. People are blinkered sometimes, they look through you and think you’re a bum. |
| 8.50pm GMT | 8.50pm GMT |
| 20:50 | 20:50 |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | Mark Rice-Oxley |
| A quick word on international comparisons. Of course, this is not a British disease. Guardian data journalist Pamela Duncan reports that France has a comparable problem - around 81,000 homeless and just under 8,000 rough sleepers. | A quick word on international comparisons. Of course, this is not a British disease. Guardian data journalist Pamela Duncan reports that France has a comparable problem - around 81,000 homeless and just under 8,000 rough sleepers. |
| She has also drawn our attention to this ready reckoner, but I can’t really vouch for its accuracy. In any case, rough sleeping data for Europe has been transformed beyond all recognition by the migrant crisis so that official figures will be fairly meaningless. Still... | She has also drawn our attention to this ready reckoner, but I can’t really vouch for its accuracy. In any case, rough sleeping data for Europe has been transformed beyond all recognition by the migrant crisis so that official figures will be fairly meaningless. Still... |
| Further afield, US figures show that as a whole homelessness has been falling since 2007. But not in California, where more than 20% of the nations homeless population lives. | Further afield, US figures show that as a whole homelessness has been falling since 2007. But not in California, where more than 20% of the nations homeless population lives. |
| According to this latest report from our own west coast reporter Julia Wong, in California, 63.7% of the homeless population lacks shelter. | According to this latest report from our own west coast reporter Julia Wong, in California, 63.7% of the homeless population lacks shelter. |
| 8.34pm GMT | 8.34pm GMT |
| 20:34 | 20:34 |
| Kate Lyons | Kate Lyons |
| “We lost five people recently,” says Andrew Faris, the founder of Rhythms of Life, the cafe for homeless people in Hackney. “Nicky’s gone, Shaun’s gone, Michael’s gone...” he says. The men were sleeping rough on the streets of London and were lost to starvation or hypothermia. Shaun, who had been sleeping rough in Ridley Market, was only 23 when he died. | “We lost five people recently,” says Andrew Faris, the founder of Rhythms of Life, the cafe for homeless people in Hackney. “Nicky’s gone, Shaun’s gone, Michael’s gone...” he says. The men were sleeping rough on the streets of London and were lost to starvation or hypothermia. Shaun, who had been sleeping rough in Ridley Market, was only 23 when he died. |
| Another person who was part of their community, Rosa, also 23, who had been sleeping behind the Palace Theatre, died on Valentine’s Day. Despite repeated calls to the coroner’s office, Faris still doesn’t know how she died - they won’t release that information because he is not a relative. Rosa became homeless after fleeing from Leeds, where she lived with her mother and stepfather. Her stepfather abused her, she told Faris, and when she told her mother about the abuse, her mother kicked her out of the house. “We got her details, we passed them on to the authorities, we rang Streetlink, but they didn’t get there in time,” says Faris. “You know the way the rules are they have to see you sleeping rough for several night before you count as ‘homeless’, so they must’ve seen her night one, night two, but by night five it was too late.” | Another person who was part of their community, Rosa, also 23, who had been sleeping behind the Palace Theatre, died on Valentine’s Day. Despite repeated calls to the coroner’s office, Faris still doesn’t know how she died - they won’t release that information because he is not a relative. Rosa became homeless after fleeing from Leeds, where she lived with her mother and stepfather. Her stepfather abused her, she told Faris, and when she told her mother about the abuse, her mother kicked her out of the house. “We got her details, we passed them on to the authorities, we rang Streetlink, but they didn’t get there in time,” says Faris. “You know the way the rules are they have to see you sleeping rough for several night before you count as ‘homeless’, so they must’ve seen her night one, night two, but by night five it was too late.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.47pm GMT | at 8.47pm GMT |
| 8.28pm GMT | 8.28pm GMT |
| 20:28 | 20:28 |
| Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
| Homelessness isn’t just confined to inner cities and down-at-heel parts of the country. | Homelessness isn’t just confined to inner cities and down-at-heel parts of the country. |
| The picturesque North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate was named the happiest place to live in Britain in 2015, with its award-winning floral displays, Georgian architecture and the delicate pastries in Betty’s tea room all playing a part, as well as low crime and affluent residents. | The picturesque North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate was named the happiest place to live in Britain in 2015, with its award-winning floral displays, Georgian architecture and the delicate pastries in Betty’s tea room all playing a part, as well as low crime and affluent residents. |
| But homelessness is prevalent, and rising in line with the national picture, caused by a lack of affordable housing in an area where property is often more expensive than other parts of the county. | But homelessness is prevalent, and rising in line with the national picture, caused by a lack of affordable housing in an area where property is often more expensive than other parts of the county. |
| In the early evening at the Springboard centre, 20 people are eating hot spicy meatballs and pasta off paper plates. Church groups take it in turns to buy and prepare the meal in the kitchen, but tonight a group of friends, led by colleagues Emma Hodgson and Wendy Hartley, are at the stove, stirring rice pudding. | In the early evening at the Springboard centre, 20 people are eating hot spicy meatballs and pasta off paper plates. Church groups take it in turns to buy and prepare the meal in the kitchen, but tonight a group of friends, led by colleagues Emma Hodgson and Wendy Hartley, are at the stove, stirring rice pudding. |
| “It’s a way to give something back, every 14 weeks or so, which doesn’t break the bank,” Hartley said. “In a town like this, I don’t think people really see it, they don’t realise something like this can go on.” | “It’s a way to give something back, every 14 weeks or so, which doesn’t break the bank,” Hartley said. “In a town like this, I don’t think people really see it, they don’t realise something like this can go on.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.49pm GMT | at 8.49pm GMT |