A Woking charity has reacted strongly to a rising tide of criticism of its work with the homeless, including an accusation that those it supports are “thugs” and “criminals”.

Explaining the changing climate, Cherisse Dealtry, chief executive of York Road Project, said: “The main reason why we have heard more negative comments recently is that when homelessness becomes more visible people are less comfortable with it.

“Homelessness has become more visible on a national scale due to the Prime Minister’s comments. But additionally, in recent months there has been increased visibility of homelessness in Woking, with a very small number of individuals gathering in local spaces or sleeping in tents.”

In response, York Road Project has penned an open letter to Woking residents setting out its position on behalf of its clients:

“In recent weeks, we have been reminded that the stigma surrounding homelessness is still very real.

“As a community organisation, we receive a lot of feedback – positive and negative – which we always welcome. Lately, however, we have heard increasingly negative comments about homelessness from people within our community.

“Despite the positive news around ending homelessness coming from 10 Downing Street, we have received comments in person, online and in anonymous letters, stating that homelessness is always the fault of the person experiencing it; that the people we support are ‘thugs’ and ‘criminals’; and, most concerningly, that people experiencing homelessness do not deserve compassion or help, let alone the support of a charity.

“Here at York Road Project, we fundamentally disagree.

“The reality is that homelessness is rarely the result of a single event or poor decision. More often, it is the consequence of a combination of circumstances such as a relationship breakdown, poor physical or mental health, bereavement, financial hardship, unemployment or rising housing costs.

“Every day, we see the impact that homelessness has on a person. We hear it in the stories of those who come through our doors asking for help, often not knowing what to expect, but who we meet with compassion and kindness from the outset. Like all of us, they want to feel safe, to belong, and to believe that things can get better.

“Homelessness is one of the most impactful and devastating experiences a person can go through. ONS data shows that your life expectancy, if you experience homelessness, is reduced by some 34 years. Three decades wiped off someone’s life, because they had nowhere to turn. We don’t want that to be true for anyone in Woking: as long as York Road Project is here, they will always have somewhere to turn.

“The people we support are not defined by their homelessness. They are members of our community. They are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, friends, neighbours and colleagues. They are people who have experienced some of life's most difficult challenges and who deserve the same dignity, respect and opportunity as anyone else.

“One recent client shares that, when his relationship broke down and his business went bankrupt, he found himself sleeping in Woking Park. He got ‘weed on and spat at by people’. This was a man who needed his community’s help but, thanks to the stigma and misconceptions around what it means to be homeless, was faced with violence and assault.

“One person for every 275 Woking residents has knocked on our door in the last two years and asked for help avoiding homelessness. It’s not as rare as people might think.

“By opening conversations and increasing understanding, we can ensure that Woking remains a place where everybody feels welcome, valued and part of the community.”