Poo and wee on Leeds city centre streets isn’t a topic most of us want to dwell on – but one homeless woman has explained why rough sleepers are often forced to defecate in public.
Mother-of-four Caz, 26, has also opened up on what it's like to be a homeless mum and going for “days” without a warm meal.
Caz has been begging on the streets for about six months. The “annoyed and frustrated” mum from Armley spoke about the lack of facilities the homeless have had to cope with on nights.
During the daytime, those struggling can nip into pubs, restaurants and the train station toilets – but at night it has been far more difficult. Caz says beggars are “left with nothing”.
Leeds City Council says there are various places in the city where people can use the toilets across a 24-hour period and warm spaces the homeless can go.
Asked the biggest challenge the homeless face, Caz said: “Not being able to get toilet facilities. With the homeless community, the one thing they don’t have is toilets. Everywhere is closed off to them. That’s unfortunately why a lot of the streets get used as a toilet.
“It’s because they expect the homeless to live on the streets but then they don’t provide anywhere for them to actually keep ourselves clean. There’s resource centres like St Anne’s which help us through the day but there’s nothing out there on a night. You’re literally left with nothing but yourself.”
Caz added the situation has much improved since the Covid-19 pandemic eased, with facilities at night reopening to the homeless, but there are still issues the homeless face, with many places “refusing you without actually saying it,” by asking for a code to enter their toilets.
Being a homeless mum to four kids
Caz had a single 50p coin lying in front of her at the time of her interview in Albion Street. The mum of four had been sitting outside Boots for three hours, begging for a warm meal.
Caz said: “It’s annoying and frustrating but I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel and you can’t get worse than this.”
Before she was homeless, she was living in a council house in Armley with her four children. Caz said her mental health, anxiety, depression led her to the streets – “I got in to the crowd,” she says, deciding to say little on the matter. She added her partner is also a rough sleeper.
'Days' without a warm meal
Caz currently lives in a hostel but says that cooking facilities aren’t provided which means she still has to beg to get a warm meal. A day of begging in the city centre can yield between £20 and £50 depending on how busy it is, said Caz.
As she speaks, a stranger drops a McDonald’s meal in her lap. Caz thanked the man and remarked: “Sometimes you can go days without eating a warm meal. This has taken three hours of asking. Luckily now there are facilities that are starting to give us warm meal again.
“This is my first meal today. Better than nothing, I always look at the positive side of things. At least I have something warm to eat.”
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “There are various public toilets available across the city centre within retail and hospitality premises and in addition (throughout a 24 hour period) in places such as transport hubs and the hospital.
“Specifically, for the homeless, there are conveniences at St. George’s Crypt (including a warm space overnight) and St Anne’s Centre (during the day/early evenings), where additional facilities and support are available. Warm spaces are also available, including at Merrion House, which are open to all.”
If you are concerned for someone on the street, you can report it here . Leeds homeless charities which can be contacted include St. George's Crypt, St. Anne's Resource Centre, York Street Health Practice and Forward Leeds.
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