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Homelessness march drops off essentials
Campaigners call for end of national scandal after 149 die on the capital’s streets in 2014

HUNDREDS marched through London’s most expensive streets yesterday, delivering food and essential items as
part of a campaign to end the national homelessness scandal.

Campaigners assembled near Downing Street for the March for the Homeless, which called on the next government to stop the criminalisation of rough sleepers.

A homeless voter registration stand was also held by organisers, which included soup kitchen network Streets Kitchen, Unite Community and much-loved housing campaigns Focus E15 and Sweets Way Resists.

“People are dying on our streets,” said Streets Kitchen co-ordinator Jon Glacklin.

“Last year in London alone at least 149 people tragically died.

“We will be remembering all those that died and are calling on this government to end this national disgrace.

“They are being killed by the cold and indifference and are running out of places to turn to as austerity hits the services they use.”

According to campaigners, the number of homeless households has risen by 55 per cent since the Tories came to power.

Rough sleeping in the capital has also grown by over a third since 2013, with around 742 people now living on the streets of London.

Unite Community spokeswoman Pilgrim Tucker said her union was proud to help out on the day.

“David Cameron’s coalition government has inflicted misery on millions and is now guilty of turning a blind eye to the horrendous plight of our society’s most vulnerable citizens,” she said.

“He can run but he can’t hide, we are calling on David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson to face up to this national scandal.”

As reported by the Star, last year saw growing resistance to “anti-homeless spikes” and hot vents cages which make the lives of those on the streets harder to bear.

Mr Glacklin said: “We are coming together to say: ‘enough is enough’, there is no reason for people to go without adequate housing, food and good health in the sixth richest country in the world.

“Today we say, there can be no more deaths on our streets.”

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