Sheffield homeless population 'forgotten' in coronavirus crisis, say campaigners

The number of people using the city centre has plummeted after Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed a total lockdown of the UK on Monday.

As a result, many cafes, restaurants and takeaways in Sheffield have closed - depriving the city’s homeless population of both income and food - while the Big Issue has stopped its operations entirely.

The Cathedral Archer Project on Campo Lane has appealed for businesses to donate food for breakfasts including bacon, sausage, bread and eggs as well as containers to serve it in.

And Sheffield-based activist Chrissy Meleady has urged both the council and ordinary Sheffielders to keep some of our city’s most vulnerable people in their thoughts during the current crisis.

The chief executive of the Cathedral Archer Project, Tim Renshaw, said life had quickly become ‘very strange’ for the people they work with.

He said: “The whole city centre has changed apart from the fact that there are people who are still on the streets here.

“We’ve been feeding people all week and now and we are extending our service to make sure people have access to food at the weekends which is going to cost us more.

“These are hard times for everybody but if you can donate, please think about doing so.”

Equalities and human rights campaigner Chrissy Meleady said there needed to be an urgent and concerted effort to help them off the streets and into accommodation.

She said: “These vulnerable people are becoming increasingly frightened due to Covid-19 and their inability to self-isolate and secure help if they become unwell with the virus.

“Increasing numbers of people passing them are shrinking from them and some are abusing them for fear that they may invade the two-metre rule.

“We would urge public authorities, housing providers and the general public to reflect upon our vulnerable homeless people’s plight and to demonstrate compassion towards them.

“Sheffield must take a stance of not leaving anyone behind. An urgent and caring solution must be found.”