• Open up empty buildings in Lewes
    To plead to the Council to open its empty buildings to the homeless in winter. I cannot imagine sleeping rough in driving, biting winds, snow, ice and winter rain. It's inhumane. It's also inexcusable when we have so many empty buildings. I'm not asking for permanent shelters; just somewhere warm and dry for our homeless to sleep in winter.
    298 of 300 Signatures
    Created by Hunch Workshops
  • No one should freeze in winter
    So people don't get ill or die, so they shave shelter and also their animal companions too.
    166 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Rebecca Fox
  • Open abandoned buildings to homeless in Dartford
    Every human being has the right to a roof over his/Her head and no more so than the winter months, hundreds of homeless people die every year as a direct result from the cold.
    26 of 100 Signatures
    Created by David Hedges
  • Haringey Council: Please give rough sleepers a home this Christmas!
    Haringey and the U.K in general has a crisis when it comes to rough sleepers. Every day I pass countless people who don't have somewhere to call home. It's completely farcical that in this day and age some people are going to bed on cold streets, under bridges and in parks.
    128 of 200 Signatures
    Created by Georgie Laming
  • Open up Empty buildings in Kent for the homeless this winter
    As we are expecting our worst winter yet, the medical implications of sleeping on the streets during this time will result hypothermia and may even result in death.
    201 of 300 Signatures
    Created by Sarah North
  • Keep the homeless of Middlesbrough, and Stockton warm this winter.
    This is so important as every human being has the basic right to shelter, food, water and clothing - these are the most basic of needs and we can help make this happen for many young & old and everyone inbetween to give them dignity this year. What better gift to give than that - Love in Action !
    1,169 of 2,000 Signatures
    Created by Linda Treadgold
  • Allow homeless people in Newport to sleep in empty buildings
    im starting this petition as it seems newport city council are doing all they can to remove the homeless off the streets . with winter coming up something needs to be done to help them , there are enough buildings empty to accomadate them before the cold weather is upon us , like manchester newport city council could put thier heads together to sort something out for the homless , could you please sign this petition in order for something to be done
    204 of 300 Signatures
    Created by julie diamond
  • Use Empty Buildings In Leicester To Shelter The Homeless This Winter
    As we are expecting our worst winter yet, the medical implications of sleeping on the streets during this time will result hypothermia and may even result in death.
    963 of 1,000 Signatures
    Created by Nicola Deevey
  • Sheffield City Council: Open Empty Buildings as Winter Shelters
    For people in one of the wealthiest societies that has ever existed to be sleeping in the open in winter is inhumane. It's also inexcusable when we have so many empty buildings.
    8,477 of 9,000 Signatures
    Created by Chris Dunlop
  • City of Leeds: OPEN EMPTY BUILDINGS AS WINTER SHELTERS
    It is simply important because no one should sleep rough at any time of the year let alone Christmas, when others are spending time with their loved ones, and during the Winter, when conditions can get bitterly cold. This move would be important because it would provide respite for those homeless people who may have endured months and years of sleeping rough. It would provide them with somewhere warm to stay, somewhere where they can be in the company of others over Christmas/Winter time and most importantly, they would be safe from outside elements, which are no good for the healthiest of people to endure for a long period of time, let alone someone who is homeless. It is our duty, as human beings, to look after other human beings, especially in times of need. Helping others is something we pride ourselves on; we see acts of kindness all over the world, why can't we do the same for the poorest in the city of Leeds? Please, let's use buildings that are no longer in use to good effect and show that the city of Leeds is a compassionate place. A move like this can change public perception of homelessness overnight and we can then move on to getting homeless people off the streets and into homes, into work and living a happy healthy life in society.
    9,032 of 10,000 Signatures
    Created by L H Picture
  • Norfolk County: Open Empty Properties As Winter Shelters
    I cannot imagine sleeping rough in driving, biting winds, snow, ice and winter rain. It's inhumane. It's also inexcusable when we have so many empty buildings. I'm not asking for permanent shelters; just somewhere warm and dry for our homeless to sleep in winter. Please sign this petition. Tag the friends you feel would like to see this. Thank you so much. Charities are doing the best they can, with limited resources and funding cuts. There are many empty buildings that can be offered, purely for winter shelter. Maybe these places can also then be used to facilitate targeted help to those in need of it - for support, help with housing, health care, advice and general care. Charities' resources could be used for support rather than spending their resources on providing the actual shelters. This is a necessary resource and if we pull together we have more than a great chance of being an influence.
    566 of 600 Signatures
    Created by Malcolm Birtwell
  • End the prosecution and persecution of Doncasters homeless and provide winter assistance
    Christopher Clinton Wilkinson – who was said to be sleeping in the woodland surrounding a hospital because it was the only place he felt safe – was hauled before Doncaster magistrates. Representatives from Doncaster-based charity The M25 Housing and Support Group said using anti-social behaviour legislation to criminalise people sleeping rough was a ‘significant concern’. Wilkinson, aged 40, was given an absolute discharge after pleading guilty to failing to comply with a Community Protection Notice on October 5 – but told the offence would stay on his record. Prosecuting at Doncaster Magistrates’ Court, David Sheppard said it was the second time Wilkinson had been found sleeping in the grounds of St Catherine’s Hospital in Tickhill Road, Balby, after struggling to find accommodation. Mitigating, James Gray said: “His situation is an unfortunate one. “He suffers from mental health problems and is clearly out of the care of mental health services at the minute and not receiving any medication. “He told the police he felt safer being in the grounds of the hospital sleeping rough than anywhere else. “He was in his sleeping bag when police woke him up.” Mr Gray said Wilkinson had struggled to find accommodation but was hoping to receive help from Doncaster Council and M25. Community Protection Notices and Orders are issued under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act – legislation introduced last year to stop ongoing environmental anti-social behaviour. Specialist housing advisor Vince Bell of M25 said: “It is of significant concern that the police and local authority are using what can only be described as Dickensian measures to tackle rough sleeping in Doncaster. “Using anti-social behaviour legislation to address issues such as rough sleeping is not going to help but will hinder their situation. “Dragging a vulnerable rough sleeper in front of the courts to give them a criminal record serves only to exacerbate their situation. “This would appear to be a new mindset which undermines all the hard work M25 has done to dispel myths and convince communities that rough sleepers are not to be feared and can be supported to change their lives.” Mr Bell said the police should be offering support to those who find themselves sleeping rough rather than criminalising them. He added: “Considering the person in question suffered with mental health issues and was sleeping in the woods within the hospital grounds because it felt safe, then it would appear we have lost all sight of humanity and good sense. “If you judge a society by the way it treats its most vulnerable then I believe we have failed in this instance.” http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/crime/doncaster-man-prosecuted-for-sleeping-rough-1-7513585 and.. Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman, said: “I am concerned that a vulnerable young girl, who has repeatedly asked for help from Doncaster council, has been told at every turn that she is ‘not their responsibility’. “The law is clear on this, a child does not have to be ‘ordinarily resident’ in a council’s area – and Doncaster council should have assessed the girl’s situation when she came to them and presented as homeless. “I hope this case reminds other councils of their legal position when considering children in need who are from outside their area.” http://www.lgo.org.uk/news/2014/mar/homeless-teen-turned-away-doncaster-social-workers-when-she-turned-help/ From tme to time people will need help. Not prosecution or avoidance of the responsibility to help.
    727 of 800 Signatures
    Created by Fiona Cahill