STUDENTS at Ruskin College in Oxford have organised an open meeting to find solutions to the string of homeless deaths in the city.

The Oxford Mail revealed yesterday that a man who died after being found in a churchyard was sleeping rough, making his the sixth death to rock the homeless community in recent months.

Read again: Churchyard man was sleeping rough

Now, students on the health and social care degree programme at Ruskin College have organised a meeting for Monday, March 4, 'to discuss strategies to address this situation'.

Dr Lee Humber, speaking on behalf of health and social care degree students, explained: "Students on the course are now supported by Ruskin Student Union and are working jointly to build an open meeting for homeless people and the organisations supporting them in this time of great need.

"Ruskin students feel it is unacceptable that in one of the richest cities in the world people are dying on the streets for want of shelter.

OXFORD MAIL HOMESLESSNESS INVESTIGATION:

- Council to 'review tragedy on our streets'

- Tragic video emerges of Sharron Maasz

- Oxford 'must do more' as some unaware of SWEP

- Oxford homelessness in numbers - and the services available

"They are determined to do something about this situation and have called an open meeting as an opportunity for all concerned bodies to come together and discuss ways forward."

A spokesperson for the new group behind the meeting, Defeating Homelessness in Oxford, added: "As a collective we feel that the council is not doing enough to help the homeless- a vulnerable group in society and therefore this meeting is an opportunity for people to get together and voice their opinions regarding homelessness and reducing it.

"We want a to tackle the issue from multiple angles and we want to help spot gaps in the support systems already there and see what would be most beneficial and obtainable. Anyone who would like to come are welcome, we encourage homeless people to come too."

For more information, email Ruskin_antihomelessness@outlook.com

The meeting will take place from 6pm at Exeter College, Walton Street. It is expected to be held in the Ruskin Room.