A LIFESTYLE CHOICE

HD | Colour | 5m46s | 16:9 | Stereo | England | 2023

The former Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, referred to rough sleeping as a “lifestyle choice,” justifying her decision to restrict the use of tents by homeless people on the streets of Britain:

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“The British people are compassionate. We will always support those who are genuinely homeless. But we cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice.”

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In response to these remarks, Leeds-based charity Homeless Street Angels, along with the voices of those living on the streets, present this short film. The project aims to challenge the narrative that homelessness is a choice, offering a powerful, human perspective on the harsh realities faced by people living without stable housing.

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Through personal stories and raw, unfiltered experiences, the film seeks to confront misconceptions, focusing not on political rhetoric but on the lived experiences of individuals who find themselves homeless. It asks viewers to reconsider their assumptions, presenting homelessness not as a "lifestyle," but as a consequence of systemic failure and complex societal issues.