Homeless woman given accommodation after BBC interview

Charlie was homeless for three-and-a-half years

A 23-year-old homeless woman said it felt like "a weight off my shoulders" after being given temporary accommodation.

Charlie has been homeless in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council area for three-and-a-half years.

She was offered a room an hour after she appeared on BBC Politics South on Sunday, according to Andrew Talbot from charity We Are Humans, Boscombe.

BCP Council said it could not comment specifically on an individual’s circumstances.

Charlie appeared on BBC Politics South on Sunday

Charlie said she was in abusive relationships and the victim of a stalking incident before she became homeless.

She said the authorities had been promising to house her for weeks, but she was told she was not "a priority" for temporary accommodation.

Mr Talbot said she was given a room one hour after her interview aired.

Charlie, who previously described being homeless as "scary" and "cold", said being given a room was "amazing".

"It's somewhere safe," she said.

"I don't have to keep looking over my shoulder and worry that someone's going to follow me and I'm going to get hurt."

While the accommodation is only temporary, she said she is "working with people... to get things in place to help me".

In figures from 2022, BCP had the highest number of rough sleepers outside of London.

BCP council portfolio holder for housing Kieron Wilson said the council is working with St Mungo's to "engage directly" with people sleeping rough.

"The teams are out each morning, whatever the weather, contacting people who may need our help," he said.

Mr Talbot's charity has previously supported Charlie by giving her a military-grade tent to sleep in

Mr Talbot's charity, We Are Humans, Boscombe, has previously supported Charlie by giving her a military-grade tent to sleep in. She also volunteers with the charity.

"What is a shame is that we've had to turn to local press for this to happen," Mr Talbot said, although when asked the council declined to comment on Charlie's case.

He said "every last" person sleeping rough deserved a home.

"This can be done, it just needs a willingness from everybody," he said.

"Nobody should be dying on our streets."