WITH reference to your piece about the rise in the number of rough sleepers in west Dorset (Bridport News, January 31), I was surprised at the reaction of the Dorchester councillor quoted.
To be ‘heartened to hear of the support being offered,’ rather than horrified that there was a five-fold increase in the number of homeless in our area on one night last November, is surely to miss the point by a mile.
There are many reasons why people end up on the streets – such as relationship problems, including sexual and physical abuse and problems with benefits.
Problems with Universal Credit under the Tory government are well-known and it would have been more beneficial for the councillor to lend her name to the fight against that, than to attempt to look on the bright side of a very serious social problem that is getting steadily worse.
JULIE FREW
New Zealand Farm Close, Bridport
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