A rough sleeper in Oxford city centre has said it is a struggle to find safe housing.

Nicholas Mouldon, 34, has slept out on Oxford city centre’s streets for seven years and previously lived in Didcot before he was made homeless.

Mr Mouldon sleeps rough on Queen Street and stays in the same spot with his girlfriend and her dog called Jack.

He said: “When people walk past, they don’t acknowledge me.

“Even those who give me money often don’t acknowledge me and I don’t even ask for money.”

READ MORE: Oxford homelessness numbers over Christmas revealed

Mr Mouldon paints and draws to pass the time and sells his artwork to members of the public as they pass by.

Oxford Mail:

Mr Mouldon explained that a family break-up forced him to move out and live on the streets.

He said: “My whole family broke up. My mum ended up cheating on my dad and my family house just broke apart from each other.

“I can’t stand my mum and I don’t know where my dad disappeared to."

Mr Mouldon said there was a lot of support available to the homeless in Oxford but the issue was finding a permanent place to live.

He added: “There is loads of support in Oxford for the homeless but it’s just the housing that is the problem.

“They have got rid of almost all the hostels.

“There is only one left and that is O’Hanlon House.”

“But you can only fit about 50 people in there and there is a lot of homeless people in Oxford.

“Accommodation is provided on a first comes first served basis.”

Mr Mouldon said there were plenty of places where you can get hot food and drinks but finding safe and permanent accommodation was still a major issue.

“There are constant places where you can get hot food which is really good.”

However, he added: “But it is finding places to say which is annoying and it is assumed that nobody is going to sleep rough but that is not how it works.

“People choose to sleep rough because a lot of people are alcoholics and it is difficult finding a place when you are drunk, and when they finally do they often get kicked out.

“Then there are also homeless people who are addicted to drugs who struggle to trust people.”

Mr Mouldon said he would remain in his safe spot in the city centre until he found somewhere more permanent.

Councillor Linda Smith and cabinet member for housing said: “Nobody should have to sleep rough in Oxford, which is why we’re investing £1.7 million in homeless prevention grants in 2023/24.

"These grants help to fund 236 beds provided by the Oxfordshire Homeless Alliance and these are all available to people experiencing rough sleeping in Oxford.

"On top of this, we directly commission another 105 beds of supported accommodation.

“These beds are available at our Somewhere Safe to Stay service in Floyds Row, at Matilda House and O’Hanlon House, as well as in a range of supported accommodation across the city.

"They include a growing number of Housing First projects and mean that more beds are available for people experiencing rough sleeping in Oxford than ever before.

“Access to beds and support is through outreach services. Our homeless prevention grants also fund the St Mungo’s team that works tirelessly to help people off the streets and provide them with the housing and support they need to leave homelessness behind for good."