I write to congratulate you on your article on the ‘Town of Tents’ special report in this week’s Chronicle and for bringing this to the attention of the Chronicle’s circulation.
Can you please congratulate your reporters Hollie Busby and James Aldridge for me for their excellent journalism.
I find it even more encouraging is the Chronicle committing to a year-long investigation into homelessness. With your fantastic journalism you will be able to do a lot of excellent work in bringing this to the fore and giving it plenty of publicity, and get as many people as we possibly can on board to getting a permanent night shelter in our town, which Grace Gomez has been dreaming of all these years.
Some things are above politics, way above, and homelessness is definitely one of those things. It just should not be happening in Reading or anywhere else for that matter, that people are having to live like this in 2026. Being Reading born and bred, I want to see our town leading the way by example in providing a shelter 24/7–365 in Berkshire for others to follow.
Grace is a very, very determined, driven lady, and if anyone can achieve this dream it’s Grace Gomez, who does so much wonderful work already in our town in very many ways but especially through the Way Ministry.
I know for a fact that in Winchester they have a 24/7–365 shelter for the homeless called the Winchester Beacon and a similar project called the Number 5 project in Guildford. I’ve heard Milton Keynes has a very good set-up, and also in Worthing they have a project named Skyways.
The argument that is sometimes been put forward by the council, that a shelter draws the homeless into the town from other areas, does not really carry any weight with me as I’m a firm believer that in the very difficult times we’re all living, and with homelessness getting worse and worse, every major town/city should have a shelter, then there would be no need to be “drawn” into the towns from other areas.
As Grace points out, there is so much wonderful work going on in Reading with so many charities, but the one missing link is a permanent night shelter. Reading needs one, Reading has got to have one. READING WILL GET ONE and lead the way.
I will certainly be hoping to attend Grace’s public meeting on the 2nd and I’m praying she gets the turn out she deserves so that we can get behind her.
Thank you for the fantastic local paper you produce each week.
Regards,
G K Joyce,
Clements Close, Spencers Wood