Yesterday the ECHO published a story about the growing number of tents being set up on our streets.
More rough sleepers and homeless people are putting up tents around the city centre for shelter, a practice which campaigners warn could be deadly.
Tents have gone up in familiar places like Seel Street and Hanover Street, under a footbridge near the Strand and outside Moorfields Station .
Already this year, two people have been found dead in tents on the streets of Liverpool.
In early January, 30-year-old Aimee Teese was found dead in a tent near Eldon Grove in Vauxhall.
And in April, dad Richard Kehoe , 40, was found unresponsive in a tent just a short distance away from the Royal Liverpool Hospital and was pronounced dead at that same hospital a short time later.
For those people who are trying to keep rough sleepers safe on the streets this is becoming an increasing concern.
Michelle Langan runs the Papercup Project and has regularly highlighted the dangers of people sleeping in tents on the streets.
She said: "The tents seem to be popping up again around the city.
"After Aimee died, and then Richard, there was a drive to discourage people from staying in tents because of the dangers attached.
"Our team won't give tents out because we have heard too many awful stories about people being attacked in tents, or people being hidden from sight if they are in trouble.
"Lately there seem to be even more tents popping up, and even more new faces on the streets. One of our team came across two new rough sleepers today, and was taking them to access help."
Michelle and her team are strong advocates for Liverpool Council's dedicated night shelter Labre House, in Camden Street - which offers shelter to anyone, regardless of their background, on every night of the year.
She said: "Living in a tent is not a solution for homelessness. We try to encourage people to access Labre House, which is open to all, every night."
"Not only is it a shelter, but it is also a stepping stone for people to access the right help.
"If people are choosing to sleep in tents rather than access the shelter, then we need to be looking at why this is the case.
"What are the issues? We also need to discourage people from staying in tents - we have lost two people on our streets over the past year, both of who were living in tents.
"People may think they are helping by giving tents out - but please, think about the risks you are placing someone under. Getting people help and a permanent solution is the only way to tackle homelessness."
But its not just potential harm that people living semi-permanently on the streets can do themselves that is becoming a problem - others have complained about the social impact these situations can have as well.
The well known Twitter account Liverpool1207 - which comments on Liverpool life - has frequently raised issues of open drug taking around the city, often in areas where tents have been set up.
It has reported such incidents several times relating to tents that have been set up near the Lewis's building in Ranelagh Street.
Others have reported seeing people passed out and regularly seeing emergency services called to the area.
Readers took to the ECHO Facebook yesterday to also voice their concerns, with many suggesting opening up some of Liverpool's empty buildings for the homeless.
Angela Brown Flaherty wrote: "I worked as a volunteer for a homeless centre, we found that most people who sleep in the streets for so long throughout their lives find it hard to be re-established back into a home and that they need support on a daily basis.
"There is enough empty buildings going to rot. There should be funding available to do up these buildings to provide a warm secure safe place to sleep."
Bob Hunter added: "Open up the empty buildings and let them stay there, no one should be sleeping on the streets when we have so many buildings empty in Liverpool."
Some readers said that tents provide shelter for rough sleepers and homeless people in bad weather and are better than nothing at all.
Zoey Walsh said: "At least if they have a tent, it’s keeping them dry when we have bad weather. So many empty buildings, why can’t they be opened for use for homeless people? To have a proper roof over their head and get the support they need."
Carol Anne also added: "They're more worried about the place looking untidy. Chances are these two particular people who died were not in good health so probably would have passed away inside a cardboard box, under a bridge or doorway.
"It'll never stop being sad but not enough accommodation and help is available for them. If they want a tent just to create some security and comfort around them, let them have it... or speed up the help."
Gary Gaze also said: "So don’t have a tent just get drenched, don’t make sense if in a tent surely they're at least dry. I know what I would prefer and take the risk in rainy weather."
Markus Taylor wrote: "Tents are dangerous? Sleeping on the street without shelter is a danger in and of itself.
"There's always a news story about some poor bugger sleeping on a bench or in a doorway getting a shoeing or set alight."
Other ECHO readers also said that there should be more to be done to help rough sleepers and homeless people.
Rob Mckay wrote: "There is no excuse for this today! It sickens me when I see housing being built on a grand scale for private housing but there never seems to be anything to accommodate the homeless people. It’s wrong when you see so many arrogant ones with big houses and flash cars, I however always think of the other end of the scale. Those people need help!"
Lynuss Monroe said: "This is terrible but that's their home, should be more help out there for them. Blame the goverment."
Chris Hayes added: "2019 and people are living in tents on the streets, how cruel can governments be?"
Paul Elford also said that Liverpool Mayor needs to do more to help: "Joe Anderson needs to pull his finger out and look after his own people and help the homeless people on the streets of Liverpool, instead he’s more interested about building new business in and around the city."
After the death of Richard Kehoe in April, Mayor Joe Anderson said the council would be taking a tougher approach to tents on the streets because of the inherent dangers.
The Mayor said: "'This is the sensible point. I'm not afraid of making tough love decisions - and we will remove them (tents).
"We are going to give people a warning, give them an hour to take their tent down and say, here is a place for you to sleep, we will pick you up, take you with your goods."
He has also said that Liverpool City Council does "more than anywhere" to help homeless people. Visit their website here to find out how to access help for a homeless person or rough sleeper.
