Fences erected around the area previously used by people experiencing homelessness

• I WRITE to reassure residents, and particularly anyone who is at risk of homelessness or who may be rough sleeping, you matter and we are here to support you.

I care deeply that everyone should have a place to call home, yet with record levels of rough sleeping in the capital and across the UK we are fighting a battle that can only be won with a change in government.

To say that Camden is creating a hostile environment for rough sleepers is completely unfair, (‘Hostile environment’ claim as council moves bike racks and planters into space used by rough sleepers, June 6).

Despite years of central government cuts Camden has continued to invest in services to support rough sleepers.

We are facing a housing crisis on an unprecedented scale, fuelled by underinvestment in decent homes from government, their appalling treatment of asylum seekers and a cost of living crisis aggravated by Tory economic chaos.

Back in November I attended a public meeting with Streets Kitchen, the CNJ and other VCS, voluntary and community sector, organisations.

We pledged to work together to do everything possible to help people off the streets. I can honestly say that we have been working around the clock to do that.

As is the case for everyone rough sleeping across Camden, we have been working closely with people who have been sleeping outside council offices to ensure they get the right support, whether that be financial support and advice, specialist health care or access to accommodation.

All of those who were based here have accepted hotel accommodation and we are working with them on the next steps to a more permanent situation.

Everyone sleeping rough in Camden gets an offer of support that means they no longer have to sleep rough but due to a shortage in affordable housing and high demand on services offers can take longer than we would like.

I do understand that the actions we need to take to move towards better accommodation can be stressful and difficult, but it is essential that we help people off the streets and into a safer place.

If you are sleeping rough, or are at risk of sleeping rough, or if you see anyone who is rough sleeping and who needs help with the range of services we provide, then please do get in touch with our Routes off the Streets (Camden RTS) team who are always there to help:

— 1) call RTS on 0808 800 0005 (free phone);

— 2) email streetsafe@cgl.org.uk or

— 3) download the RTS app, “Camden Streetsafe”, search “Safer Streets” in your app store.

Please provide details your / their location and a description and we will try to locate them to offer support.

CLLR PAT CALLAGHAN
Cabinet member for Safer Communities