Lewisham Homeless Demonstration

Pic: Christopher Ubsdell. Lewisham Council housing estate.

By Christopher Ubsdell and William Chick.

Lewisham Homeless Peoples Union is holding a demonstration outside the Town Hall to call on the Council to do more about the borough’s housing shortage. They also want more action to tackle increasing homelessness.

LHPU are calling on Lewisham Council to provide a homeless shelter over Christmas, to get people off the streets during the coldest period of the year. The protest is to take place on Thursday, 4 December.

Jamie of LHPU who is organising the protest said: “We want the Council to house or at least shelter people that are sleeping outside over Christmas. Lewisham Housing Action Group have offered to get a place up and running but the Council have to provide a space.

“A polish gentlemen that I met at a stall said he got turned away from the 999 club in Deptford recently because he had used it last year, so he wasn’t allowed to use it this year.”

Charity Urge Action On Homeless Peoples Health

St Mungo’s Broadway today urged every local authority in the country to take urgent action on ill health amongst the homeless.

Many homeless struggle to find or register with a GP due to not having a permanent address.

Since 2009/10 there has been a rise by 26% who are facing homelessness,

70% of homeless have physical and 65% have mental health problem.

Howard Sinclair, the Chief Executive of St Mungos, said: “All local authorities have a duty to improve the health of all homeless people in there area.”