A number of local residents have contacted me to ask about the homeless couple who have been living in the Downlands precinct in Purley over the past few weeks.
I am enclosing below the reply received from the Council’s Rough Sleeping Team.
“Sadly, they are not new to rough sleeping and have re-located to Purley from another location recently. Multiple agencies have worked with these individuals for many years and they have been accommodated in various locations during this period. These placements have, unfortunately, broken down due to behaviour that has been unmanageable in emergency and supported housing settings. Nonetheless, agencies are continuing to work together with them to encourage and support them accept offers of accommodation that is available and appropriate to their needs. In the meantime the Council’s commissioned rough sleeping outreach team conduct regular welfare checks.
During the winter period we will implement our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) whenever the temperature is forecast to fall below zero overnight. The Council’s rough sleeping outreach team and the pan-London Rapid Response Team endeavour to contact every rough sleeper and direct them towards SWEP accommodation either provided locally, or at pan-London sites commissioned by the GLA.”
I am sure that we all hope that suitable accommodation will soon be sorted out for them.
