A homelessness charity is urging the House of Lords not to criminalise squatting ahead of its reading on proposed legislation changes. Under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, squatters in residential properties would be subject to a £5,000 fine or up to a year in prison. London charity Providence Row is calling on the Lords to block the measure, over fears it would penalise those who have no other options. Last year, over 1,000 people reported to the charity that they had resorted to squatting as an alternative to sleeping on the streets - 20 per cent of all people seeking help from the charity. Read more on the Providence Row website.
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