A FOODBANK manager has described the increase in people from the south turning up at their Bradford premises for meals as 'social cleansing' and unfair on those forced to move to unfamiliar areas.

A number of food outlets in Bradford, where struggling families and individuals can access food, have reported more people from other areas, particularly London and the south east, seeking help.

Bradford Council says it is aware of the increasing numbers from these areas coming here but says it is not responsible for finding homes for these people. Nor does it receive any payment.

The Local Government Association said it was not unusual for councils to look outside their area to home people.

Josie Barlow, foodbank manager with Bradford Central Foodbank, a franchise of the Trussel Trust charity, said: "We have seen a big increase in the past year. I spoke to a lady recently who was told she could either stay in London and be homeless or move to a cheaper area.

"She said she was living in flats opposite St Luke's Hospital and out of 20 flats, there were only two people from Bradford there. The rest were from London.

"Seeing so many people coming into the area from places like the south, to me, is a bit like social cleansing really. These people have no family or friends up here. There is no social network for them up here but most don't have a choice. We do what we can to help them.

"Because of the rent cap and the cost of accommodation in the south they are coming north to places like Bradford and Hull because they simply can't afford to stay where they are from. It is grim.

"We're seeing them coming from more affluent areas in the north too, such as Harrogate and York, where rents are much higher than in Bradford."

Lashman Singh, who set up Bradford Metropolitan Foodbank over 15 years ago, said: "We don't have direct contact with these people, but I have been told that there is an increase in people coming north because of the homeless issue in the south.

"Our ethos is we don't ask questions. We trust the agencies to refer people in genuine need and if that includes people who have had to move to the area, then we are happy with that."

A Bradford Council spokesperson, said: “We are aware that there have been a number of placements into Bradford (and other cities and towns outside London), made by councils in London.

“Councils have an obligation to make sure families can access housing suitable to their needs. In London this is becoming very expensive for Councils as rents rise. London councils are therefore increasingly arranging accommodation for their residents in places outside London. Councils have an obligation to notify other councils every time they make a placement into another Council jurisdiction, but in practice that doesn’t happen all the time. It’s a national issue that the Local Government Association have in their sights.

“Bradford Council does not receive any payment or funding from any source if these placements are made, and we are not responsible for finding the housing for these placements.

“Bradford welcomes people who are keen to move here to work and contribute to our vibrant city, but we want people to make that choice themselves, rather than being obliged to move due to high housing costs in London.”

A Local Government Association spokesman said: “Behind every instance of homelessness lies an individual tragedy and councils are determined to prevent it from happening and support homeless people in their communities into accommodation as quickly and as effectively as possible.

“However given the shortage of affordable accommodation, in some cases councils will have to look outside of their areas.

“The Government can help to address this by adapting welfare reforms to protect families at risk of becoming homeless, by restoring Local Housing Allowance rates to cover at least the lowest third of market rents when the current freeze ends in 2020.

“It should also give councils the powers and funding to build desperately needed affordable new homes."