“Homeless people do not have bank accounts” says Folkestone & Hythe District Council.
We suspect this statement by the Council is not entirely true. We say this, as we have known people who have made homeless applications to the Council and had a bank account. Perhaps you have too.
This response came in a reply to a request for information while the Council’s accounts for 2021/22 were open to inspection between 24 Jan 2023 and 6 March 2023.
We’d noticed in the Council’s procurement card data two sums of cash were withdrawn from Sainsbury’s ATM for £250 and £7.38 respectively. We asked the Council for the receipts, as is allowed while the accounts are open for inspection by the public. Their response was:
These sums of money were withdrawn by the Homelessness Team to support Homeless people. Homeless people do not have bank accounts and can only be supported by small sums of cash. A search for receipts in respect of the amounts has not revealed any for these transactions, however the recording of this cash expenditure is now more tightly managed and controlled by the Homelessness Team Manager.
It’s clear no receipts were kept by the card holder. And there’s no evidence any homeless person received any money either. And as for “Homeless people not having bank accounts, well you can mull over the truth of that statement.
It’s not about the money, its about the principle. Those charged with being responsible for public money, those charged with following the processes and procedures put in place failed to do so, and in doing so, they failed us all.
Has an apology been forthcoming? Well of course not. After all this is Folkestone & Hythe District Council we are talking about, who appear to have NO SHAME.
The Shepway Vox Team
Journalism for the People NOT the Powerful
