'IT'S DEMONISING THE HOMELESS...

ON THE STREETS WITH THE TEAM HELPING ROUGH SLEEPERS

- DAMON WILKINSON

IT’S just after 4am, it’s pouring down and the temperature is a little over 6C. Under the arches of the town hall extension, just off Albert Square, five rough sleepers are bedded down on makeshift cardboard mattresses.

Pc Steve Founds approaches one of the sleeping bags. “Morning pal. Are you alright?” he says. “Sorry to wake you up.”

A brief conversation follows. The bleary-eyed young man, just 24 years old, explains how he’s originally from Eritrea in East Africa and came to Manchester three days ago from Wakefield in West Yorkshire looking for work.

He hands over his ID and a letter from the Home Office saying he’s been granted leave to remain in the UK. A note is made of his name and date of birth, then he’s advised to go to the Booth Centre, a homeless support service near Strangeways, when it opens later that morning. There he’ll be able to get a warm brew and more importantly help to get a roof over his head.

Every month members of Manchester’s Street Engagement Team, which includes police, council staff and health workers, among others, do an early hours walkabout following the same four-mile route through the city centre. The purpose is threefold: to count the number of people sleeping rough; to check they’re alright, especially when the temperatures start to fall and to encourage them to seek help and support.

On Market Street two men and a woman are huddled together in the doorway of the derelict former Samsung shop. It’s freezing, but one of the group, a lad in his 20s with a puffa jacket and a nasty looking black eye, doesn’t even have a sleeping bag.