Rough Sleeper Leaves A ‘Thank You’ Note Outside Shop

A homeless man has left a note on the shutters of a shop – apologising and thanking staff for allowing him to sleep there. The note was found in Preston, where a major crackdown on homeless people has been launched.

Beginning with “Sorry”, the note was left outside Scotts designer clothes store and signed by a man named Chris. Handwritten on a ripped piece of cardboard, he says he had been “moved on from everywhere” else he had slept. “Thank you for not throwing my things away,” he said. “Most people would. I’ve moved the rubbish. Thank you so much. I’m actually homeless. From Chris.”

Earlier this month a campaign was launched which aims to reduce “professional” begging in the city. Backed by organisations including Preston City Council and Lancashire Police, it focuses on beggars who are persistent and in some cases not in genuine need.

But there are concerns that genuinely homeless people are not always finding the support they need. Gary Welsh, of the Lancaster and District Homeless Action Service charity, said: “Especially in a big city like Preston, there’s a danger that genuinely homeless people could be caught up in the crackdown.

The authorities should know who is genuinely homeless. But on the flipside, there are lots of services for homeless people to access. It’s just sad that we are in beginning of the 21st Century and we still have Victorian problems.”

A spokesman for Preston City Council said the campaign was not designed to target rough sleepers. “The Off The Streets Preston initiative is not in any way targeting people like Chris, who is a genuine rough sleeper,” he said. “We are continuing to offer support for rough sleepers and vulnerable people, and working with them to help them address their needs.”