Earlier this month, the (as of today) now former Home Secretary Suella Braverman proposed controversial new laws that would place tighter restrictions on the use of tents by homeless people. Describing the use of tents by the homeless as a “lifestyle choice”, Braverman’s plan would see those experiencing homelessness in England and Wales face penalties if they are believed to reject help.
Writing on X (formerly Twitter) the ex-Home Secretary said: “The British people are compassionate. We will always support those who are genuinely homeless. But we cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice.”
Adding that she wants to stop British cities “go the way of places in the US like San Francisco and Los Angeles, where weak policies have led to an explosion of crime, drug taking, and squalor.”
At this point, an attack by the former Home Secretary aimed at the most vulnerable members of society is hardly a surprise, but Braverman’s comments have still been widely condemned, not least by Sheffield-based homelessness charity, The Archer Project.
In response, The Archer Project’s founder, Tim Renshaw, said: “Suella Braverman’s proposal to blame people in tents for their own homelessness is a further example of her desire to sidestep the failings of government policy and focus the blame on others.
“The outdated Vagrancy Act is being repealed, decriminalising people who sleep on our streets. At the same time, 2017 targets to reduce homelessness and later promises to end homelessness now look lame as homelessness increases alarmingly.
“Rather than addressing a chronic shortage in housing and a failing private rental market, the short-term rhetoric from the Home Secretary is to blame those whose lives are blighted by homelessness.
“Instead of following the evidence, which links trauma and street homelessness, the answer is to suggest real choices are being made.
“So many of us can see that homelessness is akin to an illness needing physical and mental health responses, not further condemnation. And where is the usual plea to (un)common sense? Or is it just more obvious that no-one given real options of good housing would choose the street?
“How can it be in this day and age that we try to score cheap political points by blaming those who have the least influence, the lowest incomes and worst life experiences?”
In 2022, Tim documented his two-week ‘sleepout’ to highlight the challenges that come with spending every day and night on the street, and this blog formed the basis of recently released book, 14 Nights.
Crucially, it also shares the experiences of real rough sleepers; their reflections on what homelessness truly means, the circumstances that led to their struggles, and what we can do to put more people on the path towards stability and fulfilment.
“Instead of judging the behaviours of people on the street, or even their presence, we should start to judge the causes, the reasons these people’s lives have become so impoverished,” explains Tim. “If our children don’t experience extended traumas, they will have opportunities instead of nightmares. And if we can intervene when trauma does happen, we might stop, or at least reduce, the decline that leads to the streets.”
Last month, in support of The Archer Project, unLTD’s Managing Director Phil Turner spent a night sleeping rough to get a small glimpse of the plight of homeless people across the region.
After the experience, Phil Said: “It’s the vulnerability that gets you. Even though I have a home and family, spending just one night on the street gave me a sense of how under threat you instinctively feel.
“The roar of every car engine, the cackle of celebratory voices on their way home… noises that would mean almost nothing to everyone else, suddenly felt intimidating. Your instincts kick in, and all you’re worried about is tucking yourself away and not being seen, not being spoken to, not being bothered.
“And there’s the embarrassment too. I spent the night dreading the idea of someone coming over and asking what I was doing, offering me money or something to eat or drink. You really do just want to hide in your bubble, away from the ‘real’ world. Just keep your head down.
“I only dipped my toe in the water for one night (a bloody wet and windy one though!) and to suggest it’s a lifestyle choice, is frankly, not only ludicrous, but also a demonstration of incredible stupidity.”
14 Nights is available to purchase from archerproject.org.uk and mezepublishing.co.uk, as well as Waterstones and Amazon for £15.
