A councillor has pushed for answers on what happened to two rough sleepers who have died in Reading this year.
Kepha Otundo died aged 47 while sleeping in a tent near the town centre on January 11.
After his death from exposure to the cold, a tent camp area in Great Knollys Street has been sealed off and turned into a rewilding area.
Genevieve Curwen, who was in her 50s, was living in a tent in Broad Street near a defunct bus shelter.
She died on Wednesday, February 25, a week after being admitted to hospital.
A councillor has questioned what could have been done differently to help prevent these deaths.
This was asked at Reading Borough Council’s housing neighbourhoods and leisure committee meeting, just before councillors approved its preventing homelessness and rough sleeping strategy 2026 to 2031.
The question was raised by councillor Anne Thompson (Liberal Democrats, Tilehurst), who expressed shock and sadness at the deaths.
She said: “Given the gravity and urgency of the situation, could the lead councillor for housing outline the steps taken by the council together with St Mungo’s and other relevant bodies to understand what happened in these two individual cases and what could have been done differently?
“Could the lead councillor also tell us if any additional measures are being taken right now to identify and help the most vulnerable rough sleepers?”
The question was answered by Matt Yeo, lead councillor for housing, who replied that both Mr Otundo and Ms Curwen rejected offers for help.
Cllr Yeo (Labour, Caversham) said: “Like many colleagues and residents, I am deeply saddened by the deaths of Kepha Otundo earlier this winter and, most recently, Genevieve Curwen.
“Every loss of life among people experiencing homelessness is a tragedy, and on behalf of the council, I extend my sincere condolences to their families, friends, and everyone who knew them.
“Both individuals were well known to local services. St Mungo’s, which the council commissions to deliver our street outreach service, carried out repeated welfare checks, offers of accommodation, and engagement attempts over a sustained period.
“In both cases, services escalated concerns through multi-agency and safeguarding processes.
“Despite this, both individuals continued to decline immediate off the streets accommodation offers, including under Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) during recent periods of very cold weather.
“Adults assessed to have mental capacity are legally entitled to make their own decisions, even when those decisions place them at significant risk. This is one of the most challenging realities faced by frontline workers and partner agencies.
“However, it remains the case that no one can be compelled to accept accommodation unless they lack capacity or meet statutory thresholds for intervention.
“Given the seriousness of these two deaths, I can confirm that the council, together with relevant frontline partners, has already begun work to understand the circumstances leading up to each case.
“This will include a multi-agency review of both individuals’ contact with services, the support offered, the decisions made and the escalation that took place.”
Ultimately, the council’s strategy to tackle homelessness was approved unanimously at the meeting on Tuesday, March 10.
