The former Halfords and M&S doorways are currently 'home' to two people

Homelessness Day was 10 October, but for the two sleeping rough in shop doorways on Putney High Street the issue is a 365 day issue.

We have been advised that, both Wandsworth Council and Wandsworth Police have been doing regular patrols of PHS and been offering support to the rough sleepers.

Nicola Grant, Executive Director, Positively Putney BID said: "Residents need to report them [the homeless]to Streetlink so that somebody comes out and offers them help especially over the Christmas period.

"PHS always has an increase in rough sleepers at Christmas and these covered doorways offer dry space. We do not believe any of them are doing anything anti social and so offering them food, or support is the best way forward."

The website reported the two homeless people to Streetlink and we have been advised: "Your alert was passed on to local services who have confirmed that the person you were concerned about is known to them and are taking steps to make contact and offer help to them. There are many reasons why a referral might not immediately lead to someone getting the help they need, and we are unable to make assumptions or comment on individual cases. Each situation can be complex, in that for many people who sleep rough it can take time to build enough trust to accept an offer of support, or it could be that the outreach team is already working with the person concerned but they haven’t yet been able to find suitable accommodation for them."

A spokesperson for Wandsworth Council told this site: "Both are known to our outreach services and staff are working hard to engage with them with a view to helping them access a range of services that can support them into coming off the streets. This is an ongoing process and staff will continue their efforts to help them."

In October on Homelessness Day, Fleur Anderson now Putney MP, said: “Last winter it was very distressing that so many people had to sleep in shop doorways in Putney High Street as they had nowhere else to go. I've volunteered with the charity Glass Door which offers emergency shelters, but the government should take urgent action and stop people dying on our streets”.

December 23, 2019