Local homeless charity says "the worst is yet to come"

Homelessness has risen by 11% in the last three months

Oldham Campaigner Dr Zahid Chauhan has warned that homelessness and hypothermia are just two of the desperate problems that will increase this autumn.

Dr Chauhan - who set up the 'Homeless Friendly' charity in 2019, points to a new report by Shelter that showed the number of homeless people has risen by 11% in the last three months.

With the biggest hike in power bills since the early 1970’s on the horizon, the first medic to inoculate rough sleepers in the world against COVID-19 wants the next Prime Minister to devote more energy to helping the vulnerable – or risk watching them die on the streets or in unheated homes.

“The 11% increase in homelessness through spring and summer has been largely prompted by a crippling cost-of-living crisis and the continued legacy of lockdown” said Dr Chauhan, “But this is nothing compared to the number of people who will be evicted from their homes or who will live in the cold and perhaps even skip meals when the fuel prices escalate.

"Meanwhile Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss seem happy enough to allow energy companies to make record profits and unscrupulous landlords squeeze tenants.

"I am deeply worried as a doctor and absolutely disgusted as a human being to have to see this happen."

Dr Chauhan - who is also a Labour Councillor in Oldham -  formed the 'Homeless Friendly' charity after finding out that rough sleepers were walking miles to emergency wards for medical treatment. He has since persuaded hundreds of surgeries to change their practices and be more open to the homeless.

“During my charity’s brief history and in the course of my work as a GP, I have watched the nature of poverty change” said Dr Chauhan. “Where once those who visited food banks or had no permanent accommodation were usually jobless, people working long hours are now also facing crisis. They include nurses and as I read recently, members of the police service.

"I know of people who have lost their job because they can’t afford to travel to it and have treated cases of hypothermia and malnutrition. You would honestly think we were living in a developing country – and the worst is yet to come.

Dr Chauhan says he fears a 'health calamity' if the new Prime Minister does not assist the neediest with their engery bills, where a lack of hot water, food and fuel could become the norm for some.

“The vulnerable will fall upon the mercy of charity” he continued, “and therein lies another catch-22. Many worthy organisations are facing challenging times because the amount of expendable cash has dwindled.

"Administering healthcare to the poor could return to an age where squalid conditions at home or on the street could actually kill. This is a national emergency, and the incoming PM has to make managing it a top priority.”

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