News article
Crisis voices concern at ‘rocketing’ rough sleeping figures
Inside Housing has reported today that rough sleeping figures have 'rocketed' following a snap survey of local authorities.
The report states that the ‘vast majority' of councils have seen a rise in the number of rough sleepers in their borough. Leicester found 50 street homeless people as part of its count - a 163 per cent increase on the 19 rough sleepers it counted in 2010. Hull saw a 114 per cent jump, from seven in 2010 to 15 in 2011 and Worcester saw a 142 per cent rise - from seven to 17. Leeds found 11 rough sleepers, compared with six in 2010, and Brighton will report a 164 per cent increase - from 14 to 37.
In total, the 22 councils for which Inside Housing obtained figures, saw the number of rough sleepers rise by 40 per cent between 2010 and 2011 - from 338 to 472.
Katharine Sacks-Jones, Head of Policy for Crisis, said: "These figures are extremely worrying, though sadly not unexpected. University of York research for Crisis predicts homelessness to increase yet further due to the combination of rising unemployment and govt policies including cuts to housing benefit.
"As part of our No One Turned Away campaign we are asking the Government to change the law so that no one who approaches their local council for help is forced to sleep rough. In light of these shocking findings it is all the more important that Government acts."