Heathrow sees rise in homeless population
Heathrow Airport has seen a sharp rise in the number of homeless people ‘living’ in its terminal buildings during the winter.
Latest figures from the Greater London Authority show that there were 103 rough sleepers at the airport from October to December last year, compared with 54 during the same period of 2013.
Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye told the Evening Standard: "The airport is a warm and safe place, somewhere people naturally migrate to."
Many of the homeless at Heathrow use the airport as a one-off emergency shelter, some are casual labourers from nearby building projects, a few have been deported from another country and are staying at the airport because they have no money, but some are regular rough sleepers.
Mike Nicholas of the housing charity Thames Reach said they wash in the toilets and carry rucksacks and wear travel clothes to make it look like they have just flown in or that they are waiting for a plane.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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