The head of Help Bristol’s Homeless, a charity that is trying to support homeless people, said they get “zero interaction” with Bristol City Council.
During 2022-2023, 901 people were recorded to be rough sleeping in Bristol, which is a 28% rise since 2021 and the number of people in temporary accommodation has increased by 87% since COVID-19.
Jaspar Thomas, the CEO of Help Bristol’s Homeless, said: “We need more land to this project, it’s a simple idea and it works wonders we would like a bit more support, especially finically because they get a lot of money”.
Bristol City Council met today to discuss the 2025-2030 plan, to help reduce homelessness and rough sleeping.
Zoë Peat, a Labour Bristol Councillor, who is on the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee, said that “combating in homelessness in Bristol is a big issue”. Cllr Peat further stated that she “can be quite critical,” as this issue is “close to her heart.”
For the next 5 years, she said one of the strategies the council is focusing on is “amending the way we look at home choice to make it more accessible”.
However, Mr Thomas is suspicious of the promises that the council has made for example, eradicating homelessness by 2027, he has stated that “it’s a broad statement to make”.
Bristol Council have stated in the new 5-year plan that they will interact with more organisations. However, Cllr Peat has stated that “the council don’t get a lot of money” in contrast to what Jaspar Thomas has declared.
He has also said that “You will never eradicate the homeless”. Thomas further said that some homeless people are “happy to live in the woods”. Bristol City Council will decide who has priority, which is mainly children and families, according to Cllr Peat.
She also stated that “there are a lot of things in the proposed strategy that are not rocket science,” and she wishes to amend this, so she can help as much as possible.
