Tory Minister Says People “Choose To Sleep Rough”

Tory minister Baroness Williams has caused outrage for blaming the country’s homeless crisis in part on people “choosing to sleep rough”.

Homeless charities reacted with dismay after the peer said some rough sleepers made a free and conscious decision to be without a bed. When asked why homelessness had quadrupled under the Conservatives two consecutive terms in government, the communities minister explained: “The reasons for rough sleeping are many and complex – they are.”

“And in amongst those numbers there are a number of people who actually do choose to sleep rough,” she continued.

But Matthew Downie, Head of Policy and External Affairs at homeless charity Crisis told HuffPost UK: “Our research and experience tells us just how dangerous rough sleeping is: the average age of death for someone sleeping on the streets is just 47, while rough sleepers are thirteen times more likely to be a victim of violence.”

“Given this context it is hard to conceive of someone making a rational choice to sleep on the streets.”

Paul Noblet, head of public affairs at youth homeless charity Centrepoint also told HuffPost UK that the under-25s they worked with sleeping rough was not “a lifestyle choice”.

“The minister’s comments do not reflect the reality that for the young people we support rough sleeping isn’t a lifestyle choice, they simply have nowhere else to go,” he said. “The simple fact is that the number of young people rough sleeping in London has doubled in the last five years. The problem lies in demand for bed spaces rather with a shortage of supply.”

A spokesperson from the Department for Communities and Local Government responded, saying: “No one should ever have to sleep rough. Baroness Williams made clear many rough sleepers can have complex needs that include mental health problems or addiction.

“If the support is not available or people do not take up the support on offer, then this can lead to cycles of rough sleeping. That is why we have increased central funding to tackle homelessness over the next four years and we are developing a £5 million social impact bond targeted to help the most entrenched rough sleepers move off the streets.”

Sefton Supported Housing Group provides a sit-up service for rough sleepers at three locations, two in Bootle and one in Southport. For more information ring Bosco House on 0151 944 1818.