Evicted duo pitch tent at old Brighton and Hove benefits office (From The Argus)
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Evicted duo pitch tent at old Brighton and Hove benefits office
2:30pm Friday 15th June 2012 in News By Peter Truman
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A homeless couple have pitched up outside Brighton and Hove City Council offices
Staying in a tent is never the most comfortable of experiences.
So how would you feel about living in one?
A couple have set up camp outside Brighton and Hove City Council’s former housing benefits office, Priory House, in Bartholomews as a protest over homelessness.
The pair, who would only give their names as Steve and Gabby, have been living in their tent for four days after being evicted from a nearby squat.
The couple said they found the gate to the site open and wanted to highlight the plight of homeless people in the city.
Living in the two-man tent, they have been helped out by pubs which have let them use the toilet and provided them with water.
The couple said they were determined to stay.
They said someone had already threatened to get them moved.
Steve, who has been homeless for 17 years and spent 11 months on the streets of Brighton, said: “There are more and more homeless people in the city.
“We keep seeing new faces in the soup queues.
“So we are sleeping in a tent outside the council building as a sort of protest.
“We don’t want to be here.”
Growing problem
The pair have been using the facilities at First Base Day Centre when they are not in their tent.
A council spokesman said: “We can’t comment on individual cases but we helped 496 homeless people last year, have an outreach team that offers support to rough sleepers and our joined-up homelessness services have been cited by the government as an example of best practice. Homelessness is a growing problem nationally.
“Our housing needs assessments are robust and fair and while there is a serious shortage of affordable housing in the city we have a duty to make sure the accommodation that is available goes to the people who need it most.”
Comments(17)
All 9 of me
says...
2:34pm Fri 15 Jun 12
rolivan
says...
2:46pm Fri 15 Jun 12
All 9 of me wrote:He did to Brighton He has been here 11 months according to the Article.
if he was homeless for 17 years and not getting anywhere, why didn't he relocate ?
We keep seeing new faces in the soup queues.
“So we are sleeping in a tent outside the council building as a sort of protest.
“We don’t want to be here.”
Of course Brighton is a soft touch thats why the keep seeing diffrent people they migrate down here and forget their way out of the City.
Goldenwight
says...
2:58pm Fri 15 Jun 12
There AREN't more and more street people in Brighton- the numbers, if anything, have slightly declined over the years.
What we DO have is a small number of vocal irritants who bleat about their treatment. You won't see me on the streets at night- I clear off out of the way. You won't see me begging, I don't. And most certainly you won't see me using a tent- indeed, you will very rarely see this with long term rough sleepers. Nor will you see them squatting or trying to be visible.
Argus, why don't you invite this guy in for a chat and learn more about his story- I'm sure it would make great copy...
LB
says...
3:01pm Fri 15 Jun 12
wcarstairs
says...
4:08pm Fri 15 Jun 12
Goldenwight
says...
4:21pm Fri 15 Jun 12
But simply because there is no-one there, is that a good reason NOT to protest?
wcarstairs
says...
4:36pm Fri 15 Jun 12
Goldenwight wrote:You sound like exactly what you are.BRITISH!I bet you support pasty tax!
lol@ lb and carstairs.
But simply because there is no-one there, is that a good reason NOT to protest?
lindi_lmf
says...
4:57pm Fri 15 Jun 12
They certainly looked young and healthy enough (apart from the fag smoking) to be doing something more useful.
D360
says...
7:18pm Fri 15 Jun 12
It just goes to show that protesting is seen as a legitimate career choice in Brighton these days regardless of the cause
I echo the comments from the emmaus charity: don' t give to beggars all you do is keep then on the streets
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
9:16pm Fri 15 Jun 12
As my old dad used to say to me, if you can afford to smoke and drink you aint poor.
SGK2000
says...
10:43pm Fri 15 Jun 12
They should head up north if they can't find accomodation here, or maybe our council will give them one of those newly refurbished ex-council houses which they have as 'temporary accomodation' for homeless people whilst locals wait in vain.
mimseycal
says...
6:22am Sat 16 Jun 12
That seems a ludicrously low number of individuals. How where they helped?
Goldenwight
says...
10:47am Sat 16 Jun 12
wcarstairs wrote:And your point is?
Goldenwight wrote: lol@ lb and carstairs. But simply because there is no-one there, is that a good reason NOT to protest?You sound like exactly what you are.BRITISH!I bet you support pasty tax!
That doesn't seem to be an accurate quote of my comments to this story. Perhaps you have more to add, since you are obviously more clever than the rest of us?
Barquentine
says...
1:28pm Sun 17 Jun 12
Reflect on your post
says...
3:03pm Sun 17 Jun 12
Barquentine wrote:I wonder how many times Steve has asked the question 'can you spare me 90p for a bus home?' and how many cans of Tennants Super he has purchased with the proceeds?
It must take a lot of effort to remain homeless for 17 years. Steve must be congratulated on his tenacity. I wonder when, if ever, he last worked ? I'm sure he could get a room in a hostel but this would carry with it the danger that he might be expected to try and get a job.
Hove marauder
says...
4:08pm Sun 17 Jun 12
All 9 of me says...
2:33pm Fri 15 Jun 12