A push for a permanent night shelter in Reading has been rejected, just as a major strategy to tackle homelessness in the town has been approved.
Reading has seen an escalating issue with homeless people living in tents and rough sleeping over the last year.
Sadly, Kepha Otundo, aged 47, and Genevieve Curwen, who was in her 50s, have died so far this year while sleeping rough in tents.
Addressing calls for a permanent night shelter, Matt Yeo, lead councillor for housing, said: “The request for it is largely against national guidance. Even if we had one, there would still be people who would refuse to take up the offer, whatever that was.
“And in addition, if we were to do this, we would be putting together in one place a range of people with different and complex needs and circumstances.
“That includes things like addictions, PTSD, anxiety, those prone to violence, as well as those who are fleeing from it and are vulnerable.
“And if you tried to put everyone into one simple place, then you would not be able to do half or any of the things [in this strategy], which suggests people need to be in individual units and require individual support.”
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter – RDG.TODAY, 12 March 2026
I embarked on this project too late.
SA and Stephen, were the last tent dwellers, in Reading town centre. As I approached them, two PSCOs, were positioned beside the site they had erected their tents, in order to remove SA and Stephen. The PSCOs moved away from the area, as I approached, with my camera.
By the following day, the site had been cleared and fenced off.
Here are SA and Stephen’s stories. I have no idea where they are, now…
SA, 43-YEARS-OLD
Today is my first day living in a tent. What an experience! I have had it with the streets!!!
Articles makes us feel like nothing is being done about what is happening in peoples lives.
My hope for the future is that I find somewhere to live and maybe return to work someday.
Being homeless makes me feel like there could be more goodwill in the Universe! I don’t like feeling like I have no place to go.
I guess that it is life…anyway this is God’s land!!!
STEPHEN, 42-YEARS-OLD
Grew up in Reading then moved to Ireland when I was 12; had a good upbringing.
I started getting in trouble with the police when I was 13. I think it was because I never had a father about. My father was abusive to my mother. She left him when I was 2, I think.
I started smoking weed. That’s when it started going wrong for me; I was around 15 when I started.
I went to school until I was 17, then in and out of work.
When I was 20, I continued to come back and forward from Ireland, then got introduced to heroin and crack and ended up on the streets.
Living in a tent makes me feel upset that there is no help for us out there.
I, later, found Charlie and Terri camped out, in Kings Meadow, Reading.
CHARLIE, 29-YEARS-OLD
I grew up, in Newbury and have a sister.
Mum was addicted to heroin and crack and Dad died, when I was 6-years-old.
Mum was free of drugs, for ten years but began again. She is a patient, in a mental health hospital.
At 22, I began taking drugs; ketamine, then cocaine and crack.
Went to jail, when I was 28 and became homeless after.
Living in a tent is better than on benches, where I was before.
TERRI, 40-YEARS-OLD
My name is, Terri and I’m 40-years-old.
Growing up was ok and I had a good childhood.
Things started going wrong for me, when I was in an abusive relationship.
I ended up in a tent, when I lost my old place, due to drugs.
My hopes for the future are to get back-on-track and get my own place.
It makes me feel really crap being a nuisance.