Church Minister Refutes Claims of Feeling Threatened by Homeless Encampment

A church minister stated that congregants did not perceive a threat from an unauthorized homeless encampment, which authorities subsequently directed to vacate the premises. Stoke-on-Trent City Council verified that individuals sleeping rough in the entrance of a disused restaurant on Swan Square, Burslem, were removed on Tuesday. The local authority asserted that the encampment “represented a threat” to the community and had instilled fear among staff members at the adjacent Swan Bank Methodist church. However, Kathryn Stevens, a superintendent minister, informed BBC Radio Stoke that no individuals associated with the church had experienced fear. Ms. Stevens expressed that the situation “saddened” her, noting that the church has historically supported homeless individuals for years, extending invitations for them to utilize the building’s showers and access food. “It saddens us, but we don’t feel threatened by it,” she stated. She continued, “These are human beings who have fallen on hard times… we just have compassion and want to care for people in the best ways we can.” Ms. Stevens indicated that the individuals at the homeless encampment had not caused any disturbances and expressed her belief that it was “very wrong” to compel them to relocate. She characterized them as individuals requiring “love, care, help, time and attention.” “At the same time, we’ve got to think about the overall safety of the church so we try and balance it in the best way we can,” she further remarked. She concluded, “But the idea of us as a church being frightened by that is so far from the mark.” Stoke-on-Trent City Council reported that it collaborated with Staffordshire Police to issue a Community Protection Warning (CPW), instructing rough sleepers to vacate the location and providing them with assistance. The local authority stated that the encampment had “caused fear in the local area for those working at the church along with visitors.” Councillor Chris Robinson commented: “Illegal homeless encampments represent a threat to the local community and are not the correct way to tackle the profoundly serious issue of homelessness.” Chief Superintendent for Stoke-on-Trent Elliott Sharrard-Williams affirmed that Staffordshire Police intends to persist in collaborating with partners to assist vulnerable residents within the community. He added, “Our vision is to create a healthier, wealthier, safer, greener, cleaner and fairer city for all, and a big part of this is about making people feel safe where they live.”