Over the weekend, Home Secretary Suella Braverman claimed rough sleeping is a “lifestyle choice” announcing plans to restrict the use of tents used by homeless people on the streets.
She added she would put a stop to “aggressive begging” as she accused rough sleepers of causing “nuisance and distress to other people by pitching tents in public places”.
Director of operations at Mind Hull and East Yorkshire, Sam Bell, said she was concerned about the language.
“Nobody grows up with the aspiration to be a rough sleeper or living in temporary accommodation”, she said.
“It’s a very complex state of affairs to be making blanket statements about.”
Shaun has been rough sleeping in Bridlington since January and is also supported by the charity.
He said: “People just look at you like you’re scum and we’re not scum. We’re just people who’ve been in a situation and we’re struggling.
“They might find themselves in that predicament one day and we’d be there to help them.”
