HOMELESS shelters in Oxford could be forced to shut in the wake of proposed fresh cuts that would leave more people “sleeping on the streets, in prison or worse”.

Oxfordshire County Council is considering cutting its housing related support by 65 per cent – about £1.5m – as one of 95 options designed to make savings of £70m by 2020.

But it has already cut the same service’s budget from £3.85m to £2.34m in 2014, and any more reduction in funding could have disastrous consequences, experts have warned.

Chief executive of Oxford Homeless Pathways Lesley Dewhurst said the cuts would lead to the closure of shelters O’Hanlon House in Luther Street and Simon House in Paradise Square, along with accommodation provided by Julian Housing across the county.

Ms Dewhurst said: “You cannot provide hostel accommodation at that level of cuts.

“If there is no deal struck to get more funding, the long-term effect will be the closure of support housing for the homeless.

“The people who use these services are among the most vulnerable people in our society.

“Any loss of support, or beds and specialist support in hostels will have disastrous effects. In stark terms, we will see more vulnerable people on the streets, in prisons, and in hospitals or worse.”

O’Hanlon House resident Sean Jones said: “It’s a stepping stone from being homeless, a means to an end. If it hadn’t been here I’d still be in a tent or a squat.”

Fellow resident David Shine added: “It’s a place to rest and relax away from getting soaked on the streets.”

Another O’Hanlon House user, Andrew Healey, said: “I’ve been homeless for 16 years and O’Hanlon House gives me support and help when I need it.”

Homeless Voice Oxford, an alliance of different service providers, wrote a letter to council leader Ian Hudspeth pleading for him to consider not cutting the service anymore.

It said vulnerable people’s lives would become “chaotic, their needs more complex and their problems more entrenched”.

If the cuts take effect, service providers have forecast that the 258 beds currently provided across Oxfordshire would be lost.

O’Hanlon House provides shelter for 67 people, many suffering from drug and alcohol addictions as well as mental illness.

Last month the Oxford Mail revealed Lucy Faithfull House, which has 61 beds, would close on January 31, although the council said the beds would be provided in other areas of the county.

Residents of Lucy Faithfull have been handed a letter stating they will be given a one-time only offer of a new place to live.

The cuts will also affect Connection Floating Support, which helps more than 500 Oxfordshire residents maintain their tenancies to prevent them from becoming homeless.

Chief executive Mark Thompson said reducing funding made no “financial sense” and it would cost more money in the long term on other services.

Volunteer at the shelter Riki Therivel said the possible cuts were “dire” and would lead to more vulnerable people in the city going without help.

The North Hinksey Lane resident added: “The hostels take vulnerable people off the streets, provide shelter, food and services to get people off drugs and alcohol, but also get them back on their feet and into work. I’ve spoken to people who had compared England to South Africa with shanty-like towns being set up because there was nowhere for people to go.

“What is that going to do for the tourist economy and people feeling safe?”

County council spokesman Chris Birdsall said cutting the housing related support budget was one option of 95 covering all areas of funding.

He added: “It is not a final decision. It is not yet even a proposal – it’s an option.

“Housing related support is not a legal requirement for the county council. Providing social care for those with assessed care needs is a legal requirement.

“Our focus has to be on providing services that we are legally obliged to provide.”

Oxford City Council did not respond to the Oxford Mail’s request.