Review of rough sleeping services in Camden ‘not independent’ says campaign group

Homelessness organisation Streets Kitchen has criticised Camden Council’s review of its rough sleeping services, accusing the local authority of “dropping the ball” and questioning the review’s independence.

The review, headed by Jess McGregor, executive director of adults and health at Camden Council, was commissioned after the council and the Metropolitan Police forcibly removed homeless people’s tents from outside University College Hospital, with council contractors throwing tents into the back of a refuse truck.

The incident in Huntley Street in November last year was filmed and widely condemned, which resulted in Camden Council issuing a public apology for its involvement.

“It’s not independent… you cannot investigate yourselves,” said Jon Glackin, founder of Streets Kitchen, a volunteer group which provides food, clothing and advice to people sleeping on the streets.

The review, which was commissioned in December, places high priority on the council developing “more assertive influencing of government” in terms of rough sleeping policy and funding for services.

It also recommends further investigation into accessing temporary accommodation and hostels, and improvements to services for homeless asylum seekers.

Councillor Patricia Callaghan told the housing scrutiny committee that the review was “not the end of the work — but a milestone. We know there is a lot more to be done to support people who sleep rough here in Camden,” and that the council are “committed to listening and learning.”

Glackin further criticised the review, saying “we do not hear our voices” in the report, despite working with council officers to inform them of the challenges faced by Camden’s homeless community.

“The bottom line is this review cannot be acceptable and is not acceptable… we are pleading with you, asking you to work with us,” Glackin continued. “We seem to do a lot of talking, talking, talking, and as we know, quite frankly, the numbers of people out in those streets is increasing week in and week out.”

Streets Kitchen is calling for an independent review of the way Camden Council runs its rough sleeping services and has organised a petition that has now gained over 500 signatories.

McGregor said she “can’t comment on decision making” behind her appointment, and that it is “disappointing that Streets Kitchen said they couldn’t see their voice in the review” as council officers “spent lots of time with Streets Kitchen”.

She also responded saying a draft of the review was given to all parties involved, but “Streets Kitchen didn’t give any feedback”. She labelled this a “missed opportunity”, explaining the opportunity for dialogue and revisions to the draft was there.

From April 2023 to the end of March 2024, a total of 903 people sleeping out on the streets in Camden were contacted by outreach services — a 26 percent increase when compared to 2022-23 and significantly above the average across Greater London. Of the total number contacted, 498 — 55 percent — were new rough sleepers.

In the review McGregor concluded that rough sleeping services in Camden “work well” despite the challenges. But she presented a pessimistic outlook for the future.

“There is not enough funding and resource in Camden to tackle the current levels of rough sleeping, and the funding that Camden receives from the Government is short-term with no indication of extension beyond 2025,” she wrote.

Camden has the second highest number of people who sleep rough in England, but only receives the 10th highest amount of government funding to tackle the issue.

“At present, there has been no indication from the Government that Rough Sleeper Initiative funding will continue after 2025. This means that Camden’s rough sleeping services are dependent on short-term funding and a workforce without permanent contracts. This creates existential risks for Camden’s rough sleeping system,” she wrote.

Her review made 11 recommendations “to inform the ongoing work to make improvements to how rough sleeping services operate”.

Camden Council, Housing Scrutiny Committee – Tuesday, 16 July 2024. Agenda. Webcast.

Additional reporting by Linus Rees.