PEOPLE gathered in Victoria Square to listen to and meet campaigners urging authorities to do more to tackle Bolton’s homelessness problem.

The event brought together many different groups — charitable causes, campaign groups, not-for-profit groups, churches and others — in an attempt to raise awareness about homelessness and the housing crisis.

Gary Croft, from Bolton Against Bedroom Tax, said: “The reason for the event is to make it clear to people in Bolton that there is homelessness in Bolton although the local authority don’t like to admit it.

“It is also to show solidarity with all the other groups and volunteers who have been working with homeless people, as well as to make people think about the issue.

“There is a housing crisis nationally and in Bolton more than 3,500 are waiting for housing.

“Why doesn’t the council invest in housing? They are going to spend £100m to invest in the town centre, so why can’t they invest that money into housing in Bolton?”

Mr Croft said there was a “general feeling in the nation” from both sides of the political spectrum that something must be done about housing.

Elizabeth Shepherd, from Bolton Friends of the Earth, said: “We are supporting raising awareness about homelessness because it is inextricably linked to the environment.

“Environmental and social issues go together and are part and parcel of something bigger.

“There are people who say you can’t solve the housing problem without building on greenbelt, but that is the wrong attitude.

“There are finite resources on our planet that we have to manage responsibly, there are plenty of brownfield sites which can be developed on.

“I would like to see a much more holistic approach to these issues, which understands that they are intertwined, rather than one authority looking at one issue and others looking at different things — social and environmental issues should be looked at as one.

“These issues have to be managed together, not in conflict.”

Emma Gregson, was a victim of domestic violence and who has been homeless herself, set up Horwich Hub in 2012, a not-for-profit group. She said: “We try to reduce the pressure on people who are struggling to pay a bill or pay for food.

“We try to see if we can help them in any way.

“We have helped 121 people this month in Horwich and the surrounding area, and we sent down furniture and clothing to people after the Grenfell Tower fire.

“We want to prevent homelessness and reduce poverty. The amount of people it is affecting is increasing and that impacts on us.

“A lot of people who we help are working people who still do not have enough money to support themselves or their families.”

Cllr Nick Peel, Bolton Council's executive cabinet member for the environment, said the council is working to tackle the 'complex issue'.

He said: "We work very closely with the police, health services, Urban Outreach, Salvation Army and various organisations.

"As far as I'm aware, I have regular briefings on this, all the individuals who are rough sleeping are known to the agencies."