Bristol rough sleepers plan under fire

Bristol Council proposals aimed at taking a
tougher line on rough sleeping who are not from the city have been
criticised by homeless charity Shelter.

“We need to take a more robust approach to
people presenting as homeless from areas outside Bristol,” says a
report by Bristol Council, which adds, “Local resources need to be
used to meet local needs.”

The report states that the council “will seek
to promote initiatives which assist people in returning to their
place of origin where this is appropriate”.

But Shelter said many people were unable to
return to the area they came from. A spokesperson said: “They may
be fleeing violence or abuse.”

But a spokesperson for Bristol council said:
“There is no intention to adopt a closed-door policy for the city,
but we should try to give priority to people with a local
connection.”