A KIND stranger has set up a fundraising webpage to raise cash for a homeless woman’s deposit on a place to stay.

Anila Syed has put together the Go Fund Me page for a homeless woman called Tracey who she said regularly sits outside Sainsbury’s in Summertown.

She said she was so touched by Tracey, who gave her a sandwich, that she wanted to raise some money for her to have an ‘address’.

Read again: £150,000 target to help rough sleepers

She said an address could ‘do so much’ and that she should not be reduced to sitting on a blanket shivering and begging.

Ms Syed explained on the fundraising page: “Over the past few months I have gotten to know a homeless girl who has been living on the street in Summertown, in Oxford, outside the Sainsbury’s.

“She is so cheerful and hopeful and always tries to help passerby – she gave me a sandwich once when I came out without my purse.

“I have started this Go Fund Me campaign to try and help raise enough so that she can put down a deposit and have at least enough to cover her rent for the first month or so.”

Read also: Two arrested on suspicion of arson attack at Oxford house

The organiser, who is from Oxford, added: “If she has an address, she could do so much.

“She was studying for a business qualification when she was kicked out of her house by her previous landlord because the benefits system changed here in the UK.

“It is getting colder and colder and it is unbearable to think that a young person with so much life inside them and so much hope in their eyes is reduced to sitting on a blanket, shivering and begging, and sleeping in a tent at night, in a grave yard.

“I really think that if she could find herself back in a house, or even in a room, that would mean one less person is lost.

“She knows that I am starting this campaign to her.

“She has tried all the ways of pulling herself back up and she is on all sorts of waiting lists.”

Yesterday, the fundraising page had racked up £234 in two days from 12 supporters.

One woman in America donated £39 and said: “From South Carolina USA! I am praying that you will be able to find a stable roof over your head and that your needs will be met.”

The organiser added: “If you can possibly help, by donating even the price of a cup of coffee that would be enormously appreciated.

“I will top up with anything else she needs and would make sure that the funds go towards housing for her.

“Please let’s help to get her into the warm by Christmas.”

The homelessness problem in Oxford has increasingly made headlines in recent years and Oxford City Council has invested millions of pounds in a bid to tackle it.

In September a new homeless shelter opened in Rymers Lane, Cowley, called Matilda House, which cost £3.7m.

Read more: Work continues on Floyds Row

In January another shelter will be opened on Floyds Row off St Aldate’s costing £1.8m.

In November staff from Aspire Oxford and other homeless agencies got together to launch the Christmas Match Fund, backed by the Oxford Mail. The campaign aims to raise £150,000 for the charities helping rough sleepers in the city.

Find the Go Fund Me page here