LETTER: Causes of anti social behaviour are complex

I write regarding the front page article highlighting the issues of anti-social behaviour on Beetwell Street. I also noted the comment from a member of the public that a drop in centre should be provided.

As a small, local charity, we at Pathways have provided a day centre service for homeless and vulnerably housed people in our community for ten years. At our centre there is a variety of supports and advice available from experienced and trained staff to address issues of housing crisis, benefits difficulties, financial problems, physical and mental health concerns (through our on site NHS staff) as well as food provision, referral to foodbanks, emergency clothing and bedding amongst others. Our door is open to anyone who seeks help with the above and who wishes to engage with our service to seek solutions to their housing issues.

During 2014/15, 270 people accessed our service and just shy of 100 of those were supported by us into accommodation. Of those 28 had been sleeping rough the night before they came to us. All of this has been achieved against a backdrop of a severe lack of funding and increasingly restricted resources.

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Pathways works in conjunction with all the local relevant agencies who have all identified that there are significant problems in the Beetwell Street area. Some of these are related to homelessness but some are not and some individuals are in fact known to have accommodation. It is therefore misleading to describe this entirely as an issue of homelessness although some will have such an extensive history of anti-social behaviour that they do no longer have access to housing and are homeless as a result. Unfortunately there is an absence of emergency hostel accommodation but even hostels must have rules of behaviour that can see people evicted back onto the street.

In summary the causes of these disturbances are complex and solutions are not readily and cheaply found particularly when trying to engage with people leading chaotic lifestyles and who are not yet at a point of being able or willing to effect positive change.

We at Pathways remain committed to do what we can for the genuinely homeless and vulnerably housed in our community but we are limited and it is the responsibility of the policymakers to address the housing, welfare and employment barriers that they face before they can leave Beetwell Street behind.

Sean Power

Pathways manager

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