# Homeless men shelter in Reading car park amid safety concerns

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/multi-storey-shanty-town-homeless-migrants-and-drug-addicts-have-turned-a-4ph-town-centre-carpark-into-a-no-go-area/
- Published: 2026-11-01T08:05:33+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T08:17:43+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16248809/Shanty-town-homeless-migrants.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Health, Medicine, World

## Key points

- At least a dozen men are sheltering in Reading’s Civic B Car Park.
- One resident says his immigration status leaves him without access to housing support.
- The car park’s hourly charge has more than doubled to £4.30.

## Summary

At least a dozen homeless men are living in makeshift shelters inside Reading’s Civic B Car Park, a busy council-run facility used by shoppers and barristers. The conditions have raised concerns about safety and rough sleeping in the town, while the article also highlights how people can become homeless despite being legally allowed to remain in the UK.

The car park’s hourly rate has risen from £2.10 to £4.30, and the men sleep among tents, blankets and belongings on two levels. Richard Okine, 33, who came from Ghana on a family visa, says he has lived there since 2023 after losing his savings in a romance scam; he describes insecurity, difficulty accessing washing facilities and addiction to heroin. He says he believes his pre-settled status makes him ineligible for housing or public funds.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.