Councillors support new winter shelter

Rising numbers of people sleeping on our streets is a concern nationally and in Bromley. Labour councillors are working  hard to find practical solutions to support those who find themselves without a roof over their heads.

Labour Councillors have long been involved with Bromley Winter Shelter, and now Cllr Kathy Bance is working with them to expand the amount of help they can provide over the coldest months of the year.

The national Conservative government’s record on supporting those who have no choice but to sleep rough is shameful. The number of people dying whilst destitute on our streets has doubled on their watch over just 5 years.

Whilst Bromley council recently launched its homelessness strategy, Labour Councillors know this is a council which has often failed to even accurately count the number of people sleeping rough, let alone tackle the problem of hidden homelessness and the large
housing waiting list.

To provide immediate support, last year Labour Councillors took part in a sponsored sleep-out to raise money for Bromley Homeless Shelter, which provides meals and beds to local rough sleepers during the winter, they are taking part in the fundraiser again this year.

Councillor Kathy Bance has been working with the Shelter and local churches to begin operating a second shelter in the North of the borough, starting this winter. It will
increase the number of people the shelter can provide support to and get more people off of the streets during what can be very cold and wet winter nights.

It doesn’t have to be like this – Labour’s national manifesto would start by making 4,000 homes available for former rough sleepers (& 100,000 affordable homes overall), as well as stopping the damaging cuts to vital homelessness services which keep people warm, dry and alive. See Labour’s manifesto pledges for Housing & Homelessness.