Should homeless individuals, that have refused available shelter or housing, be allowed to sleep or encamp on public property?

Yes, and create more social programs to provide free food, clothing, and medicine

The homeless people may refuse the option of such accommodation due to the danger of violence and prevalence of drugs etc in such accommodation. Real change needs to be made higher up the change to mean that people should not find themselves in such dire situations such as sleeping rough. In this day and age, in arguably the best and most coveted country in the world, it is truly shameful to know that people are sleeping on our streets. It is entirely avoidable by a change to legislation.

allowed only if the owner of the property allows it

No, local councils should make sites available for homeless individuals to encamp on with toilet and shower facilities

The number of people who are homeless who refuse actual help is so minute that this is redundant and unhelpful.

I don’t really know

Why would they refuse

Provide free housing

No — if shelter or housing has been made available, public spaces should not become long-term encampments. But the state has a duty to provide pathways out of homelessness through compassionate, structured support.

They should be moved into a home with the knowledge that there will be consequences for sleeping or encamping in public property

All property should be private. But if the land is unworked and belongs to no one, the homeless may sleep there.

No, they should be provided accommodation and instantly provided programs to allow them to get back on their feet. If due to drugs, put into rehab straight away to break the cycle.

They shouldn't be allowed to as long as the shelter/home is saved if challenged by an individual they can provide evidence of how save the shelter is.

No but there should be designated encampment areas with heaters for them to make it better but only if they have refused good help and are offered it asap

They should be provided with food and a place to live , but if they refuse then they should be mildly punished with fines or something

There should be a support system to system for these people. Mental health is a big factor in this issue

No, unless there is a reason that they have refused available shelter/housing, such as pets or not wanting to be separated from a vulnerable person.

No, but only if the available shelter that they are refusing is well maintained and suitable for their needs

Yes, but improve Social housing and Homeless shelters to make them safer and more accessible for the homeless

They should be banned from town centres and people's property, instead they should be allowed to camp in fields and parks but only at night

No but there should be allocated refuges for the homeless, like Villages etc. To prevent such things.

Create more social programs to get these people off the streets, there is a reason they don't want the shelter and housing and that's what needs addressing

I think there are too many factors at play for this to be so cut and dry. Individuals safety and mental health should issues could play a part in refusing help.

Public property is too unspecific a term to answer this question. Should they be allowed to sleep under a tree in the park? Sure. Should they be allowed to sleep on the stairwell of a subway station, perhaps not.

No, but it should be considered that some of those who refuse do so are drug addicts who are trying to keep away from other users who will get them back into drugs and petty crime

No but enforcement should only be exercised when doing so is causing problems and more support should be provided

Yes but they must use their common sense. No sleeping in/on memorials or in graveyards. They know where to use common sense

Depends on the type of accommodation they have been offered. Most hostles for example are more dangerous and risky than sleeping on the streets, so if that's what they have been offered it is unsuitable, and they shouldn't be punished for refusing.

Make sure there is enough space for them to be in general, abandoned buildings left empty to charities etc. This would be hard to monitor if there is available shelter. No one should be prosecuted for sleeping in a safe place if in a suitable zone. Maybe have specific zones for this?

no but the housing and shelter should be regulated more and only offered to sober people and children

Any empty public property that can provide shelter to allow this as sometimes the sheltering may not suite the individual

They shouldn’t be refused. If there’s a valid reason they should be allowed access to a designated shelter or housing for the same people as them, and allowed access to rehab and support.

No, but provide more shelters that are safe and trustworthy so these people need not fear or mistrust them

No, they should be offered psychological help to try to mend any psychological trauma that has occurred to them in the past. This will likely help them seek help from the government.

Yes, however reserve the right to refuse access for private property, or inconvenient places such as entrances, bridges, alleys, etc. Homeless individuals should be allowed to sleep in public areas, such as park, benches, forests, public-owned buildings and more.

make it a criminal offence, will give the individual saftey, a bed and food for at least a night which is good at least.

it depends by what means, if not bothering people then i see no harm but if for other things there will probably be another law to use

Create more jobs for the homeless and accomodation. No more student accomodation and less asylum seekers. There needs to be more incentive for these people.

They shouldn’t refuse be be re established into housing as lots have mental health issues so are used to sleeping rough I think it a case of counselling sessions to get people used to the norm

No. They should still be aided where possible but to actively not engage with society shows that you dont want to be a part of it. So why benefit from the public spaces of that society? If you dont want to be helped, live in the woods. That would be my plan.

Create social programmes to help people with their physical and mental health and a way back to being active members of society

No, If they have refused they should be taken to shelter and given a key worker to support them to live back in a home. Many people living on the streets have done so for a long time and are scared to live in a home for many reasons: loneliness, fear of losing it, fear of finances, not having support.

Not when it encroaches on the amenity for others. Deliberate disruption and not able to fit within society boundaries are different things.

No, for public safety and their own personal safety it should not be allowed as policing such things would become extremely difficult, however there should be a simple way to access food, clothing and medicine for those in need

Yes, we should provide safe spaces for those who have issues that have led to their decision to refuse available housing/accommodation.

No, but only if they have been offered housing within a reasonable distance of their current living area

Why have they refused? Is it because the homes offered aren't fit for purpose? If so, we should be creating spaces for them to live. Empty properties etc...

No, and create more social programs to provide, reskill/upskill programs, food, shelter, clothing and medical treatment

The right to camp in nature should be extended, the right to camp in built up areas should be regulated

A lot of homeless people don’t want to help themselves. No amount of support can help all of the homeless population

Yes, as long as they don't make a nuisance of themselves (I.e. harassing passers-by or refusing to move if asked to.)

they shouldn’t be allowed to sleep on the streets, but they should be provided with free food, clothing and medicine

The individual situation needs to be fully assessed. For some homeless people living in a hostel or with other people in a similar situation is not always easy for them and they may have conflicts or issues.

Homeless people should be allowed to stay in Long term empty homes where the landlords have ignored to repair the property or rent it out, that have been made safe and habitable. Council's could enforce this with compulsory purchase orders

If they have personal reasons for not going to available housing, then it’s ok, but if they have no reason then it’s wrong

If they have been offered a place to sleep then they should use it but I think they should be able to encamp in order to ask for money...in an ideal world they would be encouraged to sell the big issue and be offered support to overcome drug addiction and be rehabilitated.

It depends on the circumstances that got them there, there should be more social programs to direct them to the appropriate care or advice that they need dependant on their circumstances.

Impartial - there should be motions put in place that get to the bottom of why these individual do not want to go to the available shelter. Therapy etc should be in place to help these.

No they should not be allowed. Providing that suitable shelter or housing has been offered in the community or a safe and realistic space where that person feels safe.

I think housing needs to be looked/based as it is ludicrous this is done for illegal immigrants and not people who are currently homeless

More allowances for short term housing for vulnerable groups. Long term homelessness requires a different solution

No, support programmes should be put in place to offer alternative solutions including incentives to work.

Council homes if left empty for more than 6 months after renovations are completed should either be sold or used as multiple occupants for homelessness.

Yes, but they have to give a good reason for the refusal and should be made to attend the job centre and mental health checks on a weekly basis, otherwise it becomes a criminal offense.

Yes, as long as the area they are residing does not cause inconvenience or disturbance for others. Social programs towards helping the homeless should be increased.

Shelters should be able to take people with drug & alcohol problems rather than making them choose shelter or their addiction

No but give funding to the available shelters for rehab to help homeless people get back working and earning

Eventually, however an increase in homeless shelters needs to be increased as there simply isn’t enough.

Yes, but create plenty of free designated public space for this such as camp site style locations. Sleeping in doorways should be banned as long as suitable alternatives are provided.

It depends on the quality of available shelter. Maybe only certain public properties should be used for this.

No, But more should be done to ensure they have been evaluated correctly and the correct support has been provided, there should also be more social programmes addressing the welfare needs of each individual and not generically handled.

No, but they should be encouraged to attend centres that could support with food, clothing and medication

no but we should set up places where they can go instead as it’s not safe for them to be out on the streets

No not on all public property but they should be provided zones in every council area where they may camp, and be provided with food clothing and médecine

Yes, but not where it causes a nuisance / problems for people just going about their day to day lives

Make safe environments for people to sleep. I’m sure there may be valid reasons why they refused shelter. It’s more complex.

Offer appropriate housing to all based off needs not generally offer anything that government leaders would not live in themselves

Make available programmes for mental health assessment and a deeper understanding as to why they choose the life they do offering support to reintroduce them to society

No, make it a criminal offence however have them moved to specialist rehabilitation centre to help them with their possible mental health and addiction problems

I think we have too many empty buildings owned by people who never use them, or to rent out, that could easily be used to for homes for the homeless. Covid proved we can shelter them, so the only reason they're turning this accommodation down is that it's probably not fit for purpose.

Yes, but create camp areas with ablutions and safety and allow people to use them freely with their families as a compromise

Yes with in reason. It’s not as clean cut as saying any public space. It would need to be controlled.

If they are homeless there must be a reason as to why they have turnt this service down ? Try to accommodate them as best so they don’t have to sleep on the streets

Homelessness shouldn't exist at all. There are enough empty and unused properties across the UK to house people in need. Stop building new houses.

No, but there should be greater means of accessing safe housing or accommodation, and clearer access routes: how can they find out about it if they don’t have access to the internet, or if they don’t have means of any ID etc.

If they have refused available housing then they need to find somewhere that doesn’t cause any disruption to the public, public services or businesses.

Homeless who are being forced to leave there local community for housing and decline, should not be penalised for wishing to stay in that community. Further development of shelters for people sleeping rough should be developed.

Better services should be provided to avoid people refusing or even needing shelter in the first place.