panic on the streets of jericho

Tents line Walton Street with houses released today


Oxford students have camped in the streets since Monday to get the best Jericho housing available.

Accommodation let by the North Oxford Property Services (NOPS) is in such high demand that potential house-mates have shared day and night shifts in a bid to secure the best.

Tent City, Jericho: “Strangely fun and exciting but also absolutely horrific”

NOPS housing will be released today.

The Tab caught up with a group sheltering from torrential rain in the shop yesterday.  They told us that there were “only two four bedroom houses available”.

One anonymous tent dweller, due to go on last night’s midnight shift, described the prospect as “really fucking shit”.  But he added 3 hours on Walton Street beat a night in Park End hands down.

Jamie Parker, a second year in New, described the highs and lows of pavement life.

“One night a homeless man offered us a tarpaulin as he was concerned that our tent was too thin, that was pretty nice of him. We didn’t use it as it was covered in shit but still, I guess it’s the thought that counts.”

Not everyone was as sympathetic.

“The same night some people started kicking my friend in the head when the fact that somebody was camping in the street aggravated them.

“Three drunken girls walking home to Jericho threatened to take a piss in our tent and the other guy in the tent had to try and talk them out of it.

Gazebo-ed in Jericho

“NOPS are very nice and bring us food and tea and let us use their kitchen and stuff.

“Lots of people make a big deal about it and apparently it was boycotted but nobody from New College told us and we’ve been queuing since Monday morning so it’d be pretty stupid to stop now.”

Jesus second year Amelia Sparling described her experience as “strangely fun and exciting but also absolutely horrific.

“Oddly if you’re sitting on the street people feel they can say or ask anything they like.  There have been many hecklers, people have questioned me about my personal life, insulted my appearance, and told me intimate stories about their own personal lives.

“Three homeless men offered me crack.”

“Why am I queueing? I really can’t answer that succinctly.  Most of the time I feel like bit of a fool but at least we will get the house we want.”

Stirring words indeed.