How one council is tackling homelessness

Data from 2022 showed the areas of the UK with the most people sleeping rough

"Terrible. Cold. Wet."

That is how one homeless person described what it's like to be sleeping rough on Bournemouth's streets.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has the highest number of rough sleepers outside of London, according to figures from 2022.

The Prince of Wales launched a five-year programme to tackle homelessness, with BCP one of the six flagship locations that will be targeted. But is it enough?

'Scary'

Charlie said sleeping rough is cold and scary

Charlie has been homeless for three and a half years.

"Terrible. Cold, wet," she said, when asked what it was like.

"It's scary, especially as someone who's been in a domestic abusive relationship."

She said more needs to be done to tackle the underlying issues, including mental health problems.

David said he was constantly being "moved on"

David, a homeless man in the BCP area, said it was "really hard".

"Every time we set up some sort of tent or something like this we either get it taken off us, moved on," he said.

Another homeless man, Samuel, said it was "cold" but he had no choice.

"I got released from prison yesterday and last night I had nowhere to go," he said.

"Literally, what I'm wearing now is what I slept in last night.

"You can imagine how cold it is."

Samuel was sleeping rough after being released from prison

Government figures showed 64 people were sleeping rough in the BCP area in autumn 2022.

The figure is the third highest in the UK, behind only Camden and Westminster.

It was also more than double the previous year's figure.

There is help available for rough sleepers in the BCP area.

Charity We Are Humans provides food, tents, sleeping pods, warm clothing, advice and support, and help with housing in Bournemouth.

New flats have been built in Poole to accommodate families coming from temporary accommodation such as hostels.

BCP council portfolio holder for housing Kieron Wilson said they would "help families build their lives up again".

Explaining the council's wider strategy, Mr Wilson said it works with St Mungos 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.

And initiatives like Homewards - which provided the area with £500,000 - are also important, according to Gareth Sherwood from the YMCA.

He said Prince William is "sticking his neck out".

"If somethings going to galvanise some motivation... that's the sort of thing we need."

Prince William was in Bournemouth in September as part of his new Homewards initiative

But Charlie thinks the council can do more.

"The authorities just need to accept... there are people there that need help," she said.

"The authorities aren't doing what they are supposed to be doing."

Mr Wilson said the council's "joint and integrated response" involved a range of services to help people "make positive moves off the street and to rebuild their lives".

“Our multi-agency work, the supported accommodation agencies and the mental health team is used by all these services to support individuals," he said.

Charlie also thinks the perception of homeless people needs to change.

"Start looking widely at all the homeless people and not judging them," she said.

"Don't judge before you get to know."