Controversial comments about homeless people choosing to live in tents have been strongly criticised, including by a woman currently sleeping on the city's streets.
Home secretary Suella Braverman's comments and - swiftly dropped - proposal of new laws restricting the use of tents have also been branded "unacceptable" by a city charity.
At the weekend, the Tory MP posted on social media, saying: "The British people are compassionate. We will always support those who are genuinely homeless.
"But we cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice."
Dr Jan Sheldon said Suella Braverman's comments around homeless people were unacceptable (Image: St Martins)
Tents have been spotted in Chapelfield Gardens and on the city's streets throughout this year.
There was also shock in 2018 after bottles of urine, packets of condoms and used syringes were found in a rough sleeper's tent in a Brigg Street doorway.
Sarah has been living on the streets for more than a year. The 53-year-old said: "Of course it isn't a lifestyle choice!
Sarah, 53, said comments made by Suella Braverman were a joke (Image: Newsquest)
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"Everyone homeless will have lived in a tent at one point or another and it's a joke.
"I can't stand her or her comments - absolutely no one chooses to live on the street."
Government figures found that roughly 3,069 people were sleeping rough across England in 2022 - up 26pc on 2021 and a whopping 74pc compared to 2010.
In 2022 only seven people were reported to be sleeping rough in the City (Image: Newsquest)
But Norwich seemingly managed to buck that trend, with only seven people reported to be sleeping rough during October and November - a 30pc decrease from 2021.
Sarah added: "Frankly tents are dangerous to live in because I knew someone who had their tent burned down.
"We need more support from our council."
A tent used by a rough sleeper in the gardens of St John the Baptist Church, in Timber Hill (Image: Newsquest)
Dr Jan Sheldon, chief executive at St Martins Housing Trust, which helps homeless people in Norwich but doesn't give out tents, is similarly unimpressed.
She said: "Homelessness is never a lifestyle choice. No one aspires to become homeless or chooses to live on the streets.
"Pinning the responsibility of those suffering is unacceptable.
Dr Jan Sheldon, CEO of St Martins Housing Trust (Image: St Martins)
"There is always a circumstance, or series of circumstances, that has pushed a person into homelessness and sleeping on the streets is always a last resort when all other possibilities have been exhausted.
"People experiencing homelessness should be treated with the compassion and respect that everyone deserves, without judgment or being vilified by the government.
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"Rough sleeping is evidence of broken systems in our society – housing, benefits, mental health services.
"Just as each person's situation is different and unique, the solutions they need are varied – a person might not accept support until they are ready to, but this does not mean they are choosing to remain homeless."
A tenet has been in the churchyard of St John the Baptist Church in Timberhill in recent days.
Richard Stanton, parish priest of the church, regularly speaks to rough sleepers.
Father Richard Stanton, parish priest for St John the Baptist Church in Timber Hill, said he often encounters rough sleepers and others who are homeless (Image: Newsquest)
He added: "Whenever possible we try to direct people towards appropriate sources of professional support so that they can find the right help to improve their situation.
"But to move towards ending homelessness in our country will require work to address the root causes of rough sleeping as well as responding to the needs of individual people."
Home secretary, Suella Braverman described the use of tents by homeless people as a “lifestyle choice” (Image: PA)
A Norwich City Council spokesman said a "strong process" is in place locally to help homeless people.
They said: "Our proactive approach ensures the right rough sleeping services are provided, with a focus on identifying more secure accommodation.
"This process is supported by organisations across Norwich including local businesses and Norwich Business Improvement District, St Martins, Norfolk Constabulary, Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council."
PM refuses to criticise comments
Prime minister Rishi Sunak was in Norwich this week, on his way to Bacton to discuss drilling licences for the North Sea.
The Tory leader refused to criticise the home secretary's claim that rough sleeping is sometimes a “lifestyle choice” but stopped short of repeating her comments.
He said: "I don’t want anyone to sleep rough on our streets.
Dr Jan Sheldon said Homelessness is never a lifestyle choice (Image: Newsquest)
"That’s why the government is investing £2bn over the next few years to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
"I’m pleased that the number of people sleeping rough is down by a third since the peak, but of course there is more to do.
"Our Homelessness Reduction Act, which is a landmark law that we passed, has already ensured that over 600,000 people have had their homelessness prevented or relieved - so I’m proud of that record.
"But we’ll keep going so that nobody has to sleep rough on our streets."
Prime minister Rishi Sunak refused to criticise home secretary Suella Braverman's claim (Image: Kirah Greengrass)
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