The homeless support community has been divided after charity Harp decided to start charging rough sleepers for food.

Soup kitchens have warned the move could leave vulnerable people without food, but Harp has explained it is part of a wider policy shift to end dependency on hand-outs. We asked people what they thought of the policy shift.

ROB CARVOSSO, PROJECT MANAGER OF THE STOREHOUSE FOODBANK IN SOUTHEND:

Harp is trying to look after their core business and making sure they can provide for and look after their residents.

We work very closely with Harp.

Sometimes they refer people to us and we refer people to them.

I can see where Harp is coming from. I don’t think they are trying to drive people out.

They are trying to look after their residents and they are more than happy to let people use our services to get food where they can.

 

EMMA SIMMONDS, 32, FROM CANVEY, WHO IS TRYING TO SET UP A HOMELESS HOSTEL ON THE ISLAND:

It’s a very nominal fee. I know other organisations that do similar and charge.

The issue is breaking the cycle. Some people who have spent a lot of time as street homeless almost lose their social skills.

One of the things that is important in society is to pay our way.

There are exceptions and I realise some people can’t get benefits, but even if they have been sanctioned, they can still get together £1.

I don’t think it’s too much to ask them to pay £1.50 for lunch. If they are getting benefits, that is not impossible by any stretch of the imagination.

 

DEL THOMAS, A VOLUNTEER WITH STREET SPIRIT, WHICH HANDS OUT FOOD AND TENTS TO THE HOMELESS:

We don’t necessarily agree with Harp’s operation.

We are concerned it will lead to a decrease in engagement, but Harp has to make those decisions itself.

My concern is where will they find the food? There are groups giving out food on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

There is currently no provision on Tuesday and Thursday to cope with those who don’t receive benefits.

Those with no access to benefits might find it difficult.

 

GARY TURNER, SERVICE OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR HARP:

While we are helping 1,070 people a year with homeless assistance at our Bradbury Centre, we feel that many rough sleepers are in a cycle of behaviour that is difficult to break without our support, compassion, determination and commitment.

From our statistics half the people we see are not actually homeless but need some vital assistance from us.

Therefore we are reintroducing a nominal charge for certain meals.

However for those who have truly nothing we will always assist with a free service and safety net.

 

GAVIN CALLAGHAN, LEADER OF BASILDON COUNCIL’S LABOUR GROUP, WHO HAS CAMPAIGNED FOR A HOMELESS HOSTEL IN THE TOWN:

I remain unconvinced that Harp is on to something.

It makes me feel uncomfortable that a charity designed to look after the most needy is seeking to employ obstacles to the people who need them most.

Homelessness is not a lifestyle choice.

They find themselves homeless for a range of reasons. Where is the money they are supposed to spend coming from?

If it isn’t coming from people giving them money in the streets, is it coming from theft?

There is a whole range of issues. I think it’s a scandal in the 21st century that people cannot afford a roof over their heads.

 

SIMON CROSS, 50, OF WOODGRANGE DRIVE, SOUTHEND, WHO STOOD FOR THE GREEN PARTY IN ROCHFORD AND SOUTHEND EAST:

Personally I think Harp does a very good job without handing out food parcels at all.

I think they should basically pull away from that side of things and give more visible support to Street Spirit and the soup kitchens and those giving more ad hoc support.

I think we should disassociate food from the idea of dependency culture.

While I admire Harp, what we have here is a breakdown of joined-up thinking. I don’t it’s right for Harp to put a charge on food. It would be more right to withdraw from that kind of support.

 

DAVE MURRAY, 53, FROM PRESSURE GROUP BASILDON AGAINST THE CUTS:

The reason there is homelessness or why there has been a big increase in homelessness is we have had a series of right-wing Governments and market failures, which means the safety net has had great big holes put in it.

Our job as a society is to help. I don’t think you are going to fix homelessness with rugged individualism.

What we have got is socialism for the rich and rugged individualism for the poor.

If they are saying for reasons of character building, we want the homeless out earning money they have got the wrong end of the stick.

Homelessness is not a failure of the individual, it’s a failure of society.

 

DAVID NORMAN, SOUTHEND LABOUR COUNCILLOR RESPONSIBLE FOR HOUSING:

I have been contacted about this. It is not part of the council’s responsibility to feed the homeless except in certain circumstances.

I would want to hear more from both sides of the argument, so I would like to set up a meeting with Harp to hear them expound their views.

I have got an open mind and I greatly respect both parties in this.

I would like to listen to what they have to say justifying the new policy before making up my mind on the issue.