Homeless people 'cautious and sceptical' of PM pledge

Homeless people have expressed mixed feelings over the prime minister's pledge to get rough sleepers off the streets for Christmas.

Their experiences of rough sleeping in Boscombe, Dorset, included living in a derelict building, being attacked while asleep, and sleeping on the beach.

Andy Burnham has promised to "end long-term rough sleeping" and has said every rough sleeper in England would be offered accommodation this winter.

Rough sleeper Stuart Hopwood said for him "security" was his main worry, adding: "I've been attacked when I've been asleep a couple of times."

Hopwood attends the BH1 project in Boscombe, which is run by the Salvation Army and supports homeless people.

"I think it's a simple thing to do," he said, when asked if the pledge could be met, and added that homeless people should be allowed to live in empty buildings.

"They sign an anti-squat contract, which means I'm not going to squat it, I'll leave on the date I'm told to leave," he said.

"I've been on the street for years and I've seen these empty buildings [in Poole], it's really frustrating."

Hopwood sleeps in the garage of a derelict building and said he had been woken up to the "fists and punches" of an attacker, which "scares you", he said.

The BH1 project supports between 30 and 70 people daily, six days a week providing them with hot meals, showers and clothes, as well as signposting those struggling with tenancies.

Jason Burrows said he had also been homeless for "a substantial amount of years" but thought the prime minister's ambition was achievable.

"I think that would be excellent," he said.

"I do not sleep rough on the streets. I stay awake, which can be a problem for me because obviously a lack of sleep."

Burrows said he would instead get "a couple of hours" of sleep during the day somewhere quiet.

Lee, who did not provide his surname, said two years ago he had lived in a tent on a beach with his wife.

"The only help we could get was from the Salvation Army. We found our own place, now we've got a room," he said.

"As far as Andy Burnham's claim about Christmas, I don't think there's any chance whatsoever."

Scott, who also did not provide his surname, said he was previously homeless and "would love [ending homelessness] to be possible".

"I genuinely think he's really hit a nail on the head there and I wish him luck," he said.

Bilal Atta said he fled Iraq about three years ago to find "a safe place" after being set on fire, and had slept rough since.

He said he had slept in various places including the park, where he had had his shoes stolen.

Atta said he would "never" have fled to the UK if he did not have a "problem" in Iraq and that he does not get benefits.

Burnham also told The Big Issue he would commit to donating 15% of his prime minister's salary to tackle homelessness.

Community manager at the BH1 project Annette Watts said: "It's encouraging to hear about his [Burnham's] ambition and commitment to end rough sleeping.

"It is a marathon, it's not something that can be solved overnight."

She said people needed "long-term support to help them adjust to being inside and to manage their own tenancies".

Watts said as well as hope there was caution and scepticism among the homeless community, because of "promises that had been heard before".