Homeless men shelter in Reading car park amid safety concerns
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.
In short
- 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.
Explained simply
Reading is a town in Berkshire, where the council runs Civic B Car Park for people visiting the town centre. Rough sleeping means living outdoors or in places not intended as homes, and it can leave people without reliable shelter, washing facilities or security.
A person’s right to stay in the UK does not automatically mean they can claim public funds or qualify for council housing. Pre-settled status is an immigration status for some people who moved to the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme, and access to support can depend on a person’s circumstances.
People may lose their housing after financial hardship, relationship breakdown or other setbacks, even if they are allowed to remain in the country. The situation raises questions about how councils and support services respond to rough sleeping in public spaces used by residents and visitors.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Multi-storey shanty town: Homeless migrants and drug addicts have turned a £4ph town centre carpark into a no-go area”.