Homeless people in Cheltenham say “the move has been a struggle” after they were moved on by the council.
Following a petition from residents and local businesses, Cheltenham Borough Council told the group of homeless people to move on from their location outside of Cavendish House.
The council has said they acted after “concerns about the behaviour” of the occupants had been raised.
An unhoused man, who wishes to be known as Paul, has been sleeping rough around Cheltenham for two years.
Paul, who says addiction led to him losing his home, is now working towards sobriety and trying to rebuild his life. “[During the day] I spend time around town to keep myself busy and then come back to my tent at night to sleep,” he says.
“We have a good community of us here, we all lookout for each other.”
Cheltenham Borough Council leader Cllr Rowena Hay said the council acted “swiftly and decisively” to remove tents from outside Cavendish House.
She said the authority understands “the complex nature of homelessness,” adding that officers would continue working with partners to provide support and assess housing options.
The council said engagement with individuals sleeping rough remains a priority and that help is available through local services. Despite this, the adjustment has been tricky for the group.
“The move has been a struggle. We had no warning when they boarded up Cavendish House, so we had to move and now we have no place of shelter other than our tents,” Paul said.
“We’re here for now, but not sure for how long,” he said. “We don’t cause any issues; we are just existing.”
He also called for understanding from the public.
“We want people to know that we are the same as them, but life has thrown us into this position. We just want to be treated with respect and not be looked down on like dirt.”
Local businesses in the area have expressed mixed views on the issue.
Speaking to Punchline-Gloucester one trader said footfall has declined since the tents arrival and that customers feel intimidated walking past the tents.However, opinions amongst residents differ.
“It’s sad to see the tents on the Promenade but my sadness is more about the people who are living in that situation,” said one resident.
“They never personally caused me any issues and with the weather being so cold at the minute I hope they have found somewhere where they can shelter,” another local commented.
