HOMELESS people are sheltering from the elements in the stairwells of a central Middlesbrough housing complex, The Northern Echo understands.
At least eight people are regularly bedding down in the communal areas of the town’s Central Mews complex, according to resident reports.
That is equal to the total number of people found across the entire town during an annual ‘rough sleeper’ count.
Regular patrols are now being carried out at Central Mews, where homeless people are said to have been camping out for years.
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They are said to be accessing the building by buzzing random flats, slipping in behind residents or being let in by contacts living there.
The Northern Echo understands cleaners are regularly having to remove human waste from stairwells and bin stores.
People are bedding down in stairwells in Middlesbrough
In an effort to help the rough sleepers, residents have reported the matter to the town’s mayor, its council and the past and present owners of the blocks of flats, which are now managed by housing association Thirteen.
A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council said staff had visited Central Mews as soon as the issue was raised. While there, they spoke to residents and offered assistance to a rough sleeper and "individuals with other issues".
The council has added the complex to the list of places that are visited every week in relation to rough sleeping.
Kay Glew, director of operations for Thirteen, said the safety of its customers is a priority, adding: “We’ve been working hard with our partners to address the issues we’ve been made aware of at Central Mews.
“The CCTV located outside of the building is monitored frequently and we’ve been visiting customers living in the block to discuss any issues or queries they have.”
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She said the company is working with Middlesbrough Council and Cleveland Police and would soon be getting in touch with residents to remind them about the importance of building security.
The matter was recently highlighted to Middlesbrough’s mayor, Andy Preston, via social media.
He urged residents to report the issue via formal channels and said there were “very few rough sleepers” in Middlesbrough, suggesting that those who do sleep rough turn down offers of support.
A single night snapshot of the number of people sleeping rough in local authorities across the country suggested there were eight rough sleepers in Middlesbrough during autumn 2020 – the most recent data available.
A council spokesman said: “Members of the public who become aware of suspected rough sleeping at any location can report it through the national StreetLink website or telephone hotline which will then raise the issue with the local services which can provide assistance and help to rough sleepers.”
Visit StreetLink or call 0300 500 0914.
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