Homeless Somali family return to another bench in Tooting

A homeless Somali family who spent the cold and wet winter months living on a bench in Tooting have returned.

The pair, who are thought to be mother and son, centred their lives around a bench outside TK Maxx in Tooting High Street until it was removed in December last year.

It is believed the pair were hospitalised for a period of time and were not seen in the area for a number of months.

But yesterday, the pair were seen sleeping rough on another bench, this time outside Tooting library in Mitcham Road.

The Wandsworth Guardian approached the man and woman last night to try and offer help, but attempts to engage were refused.

In December, the bench outside TK Maxx, which they had spent many months on, was removed because the council said it was in the best interest of the family.

But in heartbreaking scenes, the woman returned to where the bench had been a day later and continued to huddle beneath her blankets.

People from the Somali community and other local residents have offered help, food and accommodation to the family, but all offers have been refused.

A Wandsworth Council spokesman said they were aware the mother and son had returned and had recently offered them further accommodation in the area.

The spokesman added: “This is a very difficult and complex case involving two people who simply will not accept any of the offers of help they have received from the many different agencies who have been involved in trying to find a solution to this problem.

“In the past fortnight we have offered them two very pleasant and fully refurbished two-bedroomed flats in Tooting they could move into straight away – but they turned them both down without even looking at them.

“If people refuse to accept offers of help then that is their decision and their choice. We cannot force people to accept our help.

“Since this issue arose last year we have repeatedly tried to engage with them but these efforts have all been rebuffed. We have enlisted the help of their extended family and representatives of the local Somali community, but no-one has been able to persuade them to come in off the streets.

“We are of course terribly concerned for their welfare and will continue to closely monitor the situation and offer support in the hope that they change their minds.”