“Fining homeless people for sleeping in a tent is not the answer”

07 Nov 2023

National plans announced by The Home Secretary to restrict the use of tents by rough sleepers have been condemned by West Suffolk Council.

Suella Braverman's plan would see fines for homeless people who authorities believe have rejected offers of help and continue to rough sleep. Charities handing out tents would also be fined.

In West Suffolk, a Rough Sleeper Service, coupled with investment in support and accommodation, has seen the number of people rough sleeping reduced from 36 in 2018 down to four as of 1 November. That number can change regularly, however, as more people are accommodated or become homeless.

Cllr Richard O’Driscoll. Cabinet Member for Housing at West Suffolk Council said: “We are in a continuing cost-of-living crisis which is already seeing us helping more people and families who are struggling with housing costs and are both threatened with and experiencing homelessness.

“Many people are supported, by the council, through homelessness prevention or through temporary accommodation. There are, however, some residents who, for a variety of reasons, become homeless and are sleeping outside. These are termed rough sleepers by the Government.

“While none of us want people to be homeless and sleeping outside, fining them because they are sleeping in a tent and are not ready yet to engage with the support and accommodation on offer, is fundamentally the wrong approach.

“Some of the biggest successes that our service has had over the past five years are with people who need support for their mental health and other complex needs including, in some cases, drink and drug addiction.

“Yes, we’d like to see less tents – but only if it is because the people who had been rough sleeping in them are getting the proper support that they need. It’s not just a case of giving them a bed and closing their files.

“We also recognise that sometimes people aren’t ready to be helped and sometimes the people that we do help with support and accommodation, may still slip up and end up back on the streets. Fortunately, our Rough Sleeper Service - along with other statutory and voluntary sector partners - treats them with compassion, and we persevere to try to help them off of the streets in order to rebuild their lives. Fining them for sleeping in a tent is not the answer. Nor is it appropriate or just to fine the very organisations that are seeking to support these extremely vulnerable individuals.”

If people see or suspect someone is sleeping rough, the quickest way to report it to the council’s rough sleeper service is using StreetLink.

The rough sleeper service then gets an alert, and they will go and speak to the person (if they aren’t already) to try to get them the help that they need.

---