Homelessness charity says it has ‘never witnessed a more distressing situation’ than during the coronavirus crisis, as newly unemployed restaurant and pub workers are forced to sleep on the streets of central London.
Martin, a 27-year-old chef from Poland who was recently sacked, said: “London has become so strange and sad. The only people who are out look like they are looking for drugs. There are a lot of crazy people with knives.” He has been sleeping on a pavement near Charing Cross station for six weeks after losing his job and being unable to pay rent.
The government says it has housed 90% of rough sleepers nationally by paying for hotel rooms, with 5,400 housed including 1,800 in 10 hotels across London. But hundreds of tents and cardboard box encampments remain, and conditions are getting harsher for those still or newly on the streets. Day centres are closed, leaving the homeless with no place to shower, wash clothes, or access regular food supplies.
Brian Whiting, a volunteer with Under One Sky, said: “One of the really distressing new things is the hospitality homeless. We’re seeing so many people who were working in kitchens, hotels and pubs until a few weeks ago. They’re so obviously ill-equipped to be out there.” Most of those pushed into homelessness had insecure jobs and precarious living arrangements, with no ability to navigate the benefits system.
Martin said he has been told five or six times by outreach workers that someone will call him to organise a hotel room. “I waited for a call. I’m still waiting. Maybe the hotels are full,” he said. His phone battery has now died, and with cafes closed there is nowhere to charge it.
