Tents appear outside old banks as rough sleeping problem persists

The doorways of some of Bradford's grandest buildings are now being used as makeshift pitches for tents by those sleeping rough on the city's streets.

On Friday, tents could be seen in the doorways of two now-disused listed bank buildings in the city centre.

A tent across the doorway of the listed former Santander building at the junction of Kirkgate and Darley Street on Friday (Image: T&A)

One of those was outside the former NatWest building at the junction of Bank Street and Tyrrel Street, where a man could be seen sat on the steps nearby. A short distance away, at the junction of Bank Street and Kirkgate, the former Santander building had a tent across its doorway.

Bradford Council says it is doing all it can to support rough sleepers across the Bradford district to change their circumstances for the better.

Shelter, a housing and homelessness charity, released research recently estimating that more than 500 people in Bradford were currently without a home. It called for the public’s support to provide vital support and fight for the solutions people want and need to end homelessness.

A tent in the doorway of the former NatWest bank on Bank Street, opposite the Wool Exchange (Image: T&A)

Recent stories about the issue of homelessness have sparked a debate among T&A readers, including an emotive story about how a former rough sleeper had described the streets as a "scary place to be."

In the comments section of our website, a reader with the username By Boz said: "How many of the homeless could have been helped into houses, given therapy and other assistance had this Government not spent millions of pounds in Rwanda and other gesture policies? - Just a thought."

Jo90 said: "How about temporarily housing them at the York House flats on Idlethorpe Way which Incommunities is in process of moving tenants out ahead of the building being demolished in 2024?"

Keyser Soze said: "Two thirds of homeless people cite drugs or alcohol use as a reason for first becoming homeless. They often decline help and places to stay due to the premises rules restricting drugs or alcohol. And have you ever wondered why most homeless people beg specifically for money and not food?"

A picture from late 2023 of a tent near Bradford City Hall (Image: T&A)

The_light said: "No citizen should be sleeping rough in this day and age, but there are some who actually prefer to live that way and refuse help and accomodation.

 "It's not confined to Bradford, it's going on all over the world. All the help and support offered and given won't help a person if they don't want to change their ways."

Mr Perks said: "After a 20 plus year career in homelessness, addiction and mental health support. I could count the number of people who refused help to find a home on one hand.

"And the majority of those were so mentally unwell that they weren't thinking straight. Your comment is dangerously close to a recent comment by a politician about rough sleeping being a 'lifestyle choice'.

"It rarely is, the vast majority of homeless people don't want to live that way. Saying otherwise is both untrue and only serves a narrative that seeks to demonise some of the most vulnerable people in society."

What has the Council said?

Only last month, Bradford Council issued a detailed statement on the issue of rough sleeping.

In December, The Council’s Executive for Regeneration, Transport and Planning Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw said: “People who sleep rough are some of the most vulnerable people in society. Their lives are often difficult, and they have often experienced trauma so they can be difficult to reach. Giving people the support to access services which can help them is vital.  

“We’re proud of the work of the HOP team, which makes such a huge difference to these people’s lives.

“The Council has a wide-ranging approach to addressing homelessness rooted in understanding and patience.

“There are many services who work together with external partners to support rough sleepers who may feel like they’ve otherwise been forgotten.

“We are working hard to do all we can to support rough sleepers across the Bradford district to change their circumstances for the better.”

People emerging from the historic Wool Exchange are greeted by the sight of a tent outside the former bank building opposite (Image: T&A)

Clare Flannigan has been the HOP team co-ordinator for the past four and a half year. She said: “When we first meet people literally on the streets, they’re out of options and it’s heart-breaking. We really get to know them while we work with them and to see people make progress like this means everything to us. And it’s a partnership effort, there are many people involved.

“Our work is challenging but it can also be incredibly rewarding.

“We’ve had someone close to death turn things around and make a new life for himself. We’ve had 22 ‘move-ins’ to accommodation last week and it’s those things which make such a difference to us as we work and ultimately makes a difference to the lives of those people.”

As part of the Council’s approach to homelessness there have been investments in other critical services, including the Housing First initiative which provides permanent housing with open-ended, wraparound support for the resident that emphasises choice and control, and expanding the 'No Second Night Out' provision, a commitment to making sure no-one is rough sleeping for more than one night.