Reading charity calls for urgent response to car park rough sleepers

Summarised from Reading Chronicle's report · Updated 5 Nov, 22:04 · Archive

A Reading charity leader has called for urgent action over rough sleepers staying in a town centre car park.

Grace Gomez, founder of The Way Ministry, has called for an urgent response to rough sleepers living in Civic B Car Park in Reading town centre. She said people have been living there for some months in unsafe and unsuitable conditions simply because they have nowhere else to go. Residents and businesses have reported issues including drug use, anti-social behaviour and violence.

Ms Gomez expressed deep concern about the safety and wellbeing of those staying in the car park. She said living in such an environment leaves people vulnerable to exploitation, violence, illness and deterioration in physical and emotional wellbeing. While acknowledging that reports of drug use and violence need to be taken seriously, she cautioned against labelling everyone staying there because of the actions of a few. She noted that despite crucial charity services doing important work, people are still falling through the gaps.

Read the report

• 'Nobody should have to live in a car park', says Reading charity bossA Reading charity leader has called for an urgent response to people sleeping in a town centre car park, saying "nobody should have to live in a car park because there is nowhere else for them to go".Reading Chronicle · 5 Nov, 16:00

In this story: Grace Gomez · The Way Ministry · Reading · Civic B Car Park

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