A public meeting has been organised to tackle the homelessness crisis in Reading.
Alarm has been raised about the number of people living in tents in the town, with people spotted in tents at the car park for Broad Street Mall, off Portman Road, and even in Broad Street, the busiest shopping street.
A man called Kepha Otundo sadly died earlier this year from exposure to the cold while in a tent near the town centre.
Grace Gomez, from the Way Ministry, has organised a public meeting of stakeholders to unify efforts to resolve the issue.
The ministry has advocated for a night shelter to be established following their discussions with homeless people in the town.
Mrs Gomez said: “We are pushing for a permanent night shelter in Reading—a safe, consistent place where people can find warmth, dignity, and support, not just in emergencies but all year round.
“To move this forward, The Way Ministry Reading is holding a public meeting for anyone who wants to be part of the solution.
“This meeting is open to community members, churches, organisations, funders, and individuals who care about addressing homelessness in a meaningful and lasting way.”
The meeting will take place from 2pm to 3.30pm on Saturday, February 21 at the Fairview Community Centre at 90b Great Knollys Street.
A night shelter was previously run in the town from December 2023 to March 2024, but had to close due to unforeseen circumstances.
