World Homeless Day

Ahead of World Homeless Day (10 October), Bedford Borough Mayor Dave Hodgson, has reflected on homelessness and rough sleeping during the Coronavirus pandemic.

During the pandemic the Council have worked with many of the homelessness organisations across the Borough, including SMART CJS and the Kings Arms Project, to ensure no one has had to sleep rough. The Government made funds available for hotel accommodation and the Council are now working with the Government over the next steps to ensure we can continue to accommodate those at risk from rough sleeping from returning to the street longer-term.

Over the last six months we have been able to accommodate almost 200 people who either had been rough sleeping or were homeless and not entitled to statutory accommodation. Along with the accommodation additional support services have been delivered by the Council, homelessness organisations, ELFT Pathways to Recovery and Mental Health Service and others, which have helped most of the individuals move into more permanent accommodation and helped to resolve the underlying issues that so often contribute to a person becoming street homeless.

Mayor Dave said "Last year, on World Homeless Day, I visited the 'Somewhere Safe To Stay Hub'. Since then because of Coronavirus pandemic, with support from the Government and collaborative working in Bedford Borough we have been accommodate and work to deliver a more secure future for so many people. We must ensure that going forward no one has to return to sleeping on the streets here. People sleeping rough are the most obvious and visible signs of homelessness, but we shouldn't forget that every year the Council also supports hundreds of people, including families, who become homeless or are at risk of losing their home. We do this by providing them with emergency accommodation and help to find a settled home."

Mayor Dave added "In recent weeks there has been an increase in begging in Bedford Town Centre, and this is often perceived as being due homelessness. However, there is now no need to anyone in the Borough to be without somewhere to stay, and no one needs to beg because they are homeless. The police and the Council's Community Safety team are aware of this and take action when they can, particularly where there is anti-social behaviour. I would urge anyone who wants to help people who are homeless to donate to one of the homelessness organisations in the Borough."