Homeless families sheltering across Birmingham hotels asked to vacate ahead of CWG 2022
As Birmingham prepares to host the Commonwealth Games this week, homeless families living in temporary housing are being relocated.
Birmingham City Council confirmed that approximately 20 families will be relocated to Coventry, 20 miles outside of the city, for the duration of the games, which are set to begin on Thursday.
However, a social worker who exposed the council’s plans warned that many more people could be forced out of city centre hotels to make way for spectators and athletes during the 12-day event.
“I think we as a city appear to be abdicating our responsibility to care for some of the most vulnerable families,” said Eddie O’Hara, an independent social worker and founder of the charity All Birmingham’s Children.
“This is a time when the Commonwealth family is visiting the city.” And it appears that when we welcome people from all over the world, we are leaving some of our children and families behind. Many of these children and families receive certain services here, and that is not going to change.
According to a Birmingham City Council spokesperson, it has been in talks with hotel owners in recent months to ensure that most families living in temporary housing can stay during the games. A council spokesperson confirmed, however, that “fewer than 20 families” have been relocated to Coventry for the duration of the games due to hotel bookings.
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