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.

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.

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.

Do I really even need to answer this? I'll just tell you about a man I befriended a few years back, let's call him John. He was homeless. I got taking to him whilst waiting for the Gosport ferry after work one day. John was selling the big issue, he was clearly unwell. When I questioned him on his health he said is was "just a cold." I'd bump into John at least once a week and as the weeks went on his health deteriorated. One evening I pretty much ordered him to get a bus to QA. I watched him get on the bus. I didn't see John for the rest of that winter, then around April I saw him in North End. He was unrecognisable, he was a different colour, his eyes where shining, his hair was fuller and he was standing up straight. He had a girlfriend. He told me he that when he go to QA they all panicked over him. He had got pneumonia. I am quite certain if John hadn't gone to hospital AND if he hadn't had a roof over his head whilst he recovered, he would have died. It is also much less likely that he would have had pneumonia if he was not exposed to the brutality of a British winter. If there is shelter in the form of empty or unused buildings, is it humane to deny it to those who need it the most? This year 2,744 are estimated to be sleeping rough in the uk on any one night. This is up 14% from estimations on rough sleepers in 2013 and a staggering 55% from 2010! Let's try and change that for the better!

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.

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.

So people don't get ill or die, so they shave shelter and also their animal companions too.

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.

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.

More and more people are becoming homeless everyday, particularly in the climate of austerity and we are all susceptible to the adverse effects of harsh winter weather. With babies and children dying in cars when sleeping rough with their parents and number of people, even with houses, dying due to the bitter cold it is of vital importance that people are protected this winter. Furthermore, preventative action to reduce health problems as a result of cold weather could save the NHS money as they would not have to treat illnesses due to harsh weather. It is therefore simply logical to open up empty buildings this winter to provide shelter for those who are in need. References : http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/baby-who-was-forced-to-sleep-in-car-with-homeless-parents-dies-a6669301.html http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/04/uk-death-rate-above-average-winter-cold-flu

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.

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 !