Suella Braverman proposes plans to stop homeless using tents

Describing the use of tents by the homeless as a “lifestyle choice”, Braverman’s plan would see those in England and Wales face penalties if they are believed to reject help.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the Home Secretary said: “The British people are compassionate. We will always support those who are genuinely homeless. But we cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice.”

Adding that she wants to stop British cities “go the way of places in the US like San Francisco and Los Angeles, where weak policies have led to an explosion of crime, drug taking, and squalor.”

The British people are compassionate. We will always support those who are genuinely homeless. But we cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice. 1/4 https://t.co/fT1Ou5kD5Q

— Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) November 4, 2023

Braverman went on to add: “Nobody in Britain should be living in a tent on our streets. There are options for people who don’t want to be sleeping rough, and the Government is working with local authorities to strengthen wraparound support including treatment for those with drug and alcohol addiction.”

Sharing what she plans to stop, the MP said: “What I want to stop, and what the law-abiding majority wants us to stop, is those who cause nuisance and distress to other people by pitching tents in public spaces, aggressively begging, stealing, taking drugs, littering, and blighting our communities.”

Suella Braverman faces mass backlash over plans to stop homeless using tents

Braverman’s proposal has been met with mass criticism as homeless charity Shelter described the plans as “a sign of failed government policy.”

Sharing: “Let's make it clear: living on the streets is not a ‘lifestyle choice’ - it is a sign of failed government policy. No one should be punished for being homeless. Criminalising people for sleeping in tents, and making it an offence for charities to help them, is unacceptable.”

Sleeping on the streets is NOT a lifestyle choice. We don’t have nearly enough affordable homes, rents are soaring and this is leaving people destitute and forced to sleep rough.
This is a consequence of poverty. And poverty in this country has been exacerbated by policy choices https://t.co/4axpYpIkYz

— Crisis (@crisis_uk) November 4, 2023

Fellow homeless charity Porchlight said that Braverman’s plans are not compassionate: “Punishing someone for being homeless isn't compassionate.

“Preventing charities from giving tents to those who need them isn't compassionate. Funding more homelessness support - instead of blocking those who are trying to help - would be compassionate.”

Comedian Dara O Briain responded to the Home Secretary’s comments writing: “We could get angry at Suella’s latest piece of performative, pandering cruelty or… instead: let’s promote the excellent work done by @Shelter, @centrepointuk, @PassageCharity and other fine charities actually trying to help homeless people, especially now, as winter approaches.”