Homelessness figures have rocketed for the first time in four years

Statistics published by the UK government have shown the number of people sleeping rough in England has risen by more than a quarter in 2022.

Published yesterday, the Department of Levelling Up, Communities and Housing revealed the number of people estimated to be sleeping on the street on a single night in autumn last year was 3,069 – 26% more than in 2021.

The rise follows four years of decreases in rough sleeping, partly due to initiatives during the pandemic. Additionally, rising prices are forcing people to turn to the streets, charities warn.

During the pandemic, the government’s scheme ‘Everyone In’, which was introduced in 2021 with an aim to getting as many people off the streets as possible, provided more than 37,000 rough sleepers with a place to stay. However, many were not found permeant homes and were at risk of becoming homeless again.

The new figures suggest the number of people sleeping rough is 35% lower than the peak in 2017 – but 74% higher than in 2010.

Speaking to the BBC, Julie Dempster, from Bristol Outreach Services for the Homeless, claims the rise has come from people being unable to afford the current rising costs-of-living.

She said: ‘It’s really frightening for those people who have not been homeless before. The rental increase in Bristol is absolutely huge.’

Now, the cost of a one-bed apartment in Bristol has increased by almost 20% since 2019, totalling to £950 a month. However, the maximum level of housing benefits for such properties has been frozen for three years, at £695 a month.

Alongside tenants struggling in Bristol, figures show London has had the biggest increase of rough sleepers, with an increase of 34% across a 12-month period.

According to government figures, there were an estimated 858 people sleeping on the streets of the capital on a single night in autumn in 2022, compared to 640 the year before.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, described these finds as ‘extremely alarming and further evidence of the devastating fallout from the cost-of-living crisis.

‘It is time ministers got a grip on the escalating food, energy and housing crises and restored all the social security safety net which helps stop people becoming trapped in a cycle of homelessness.’

Mr Khan is currently doing all he can to ensure as many people are off the capital’s streets as possible. At the beginning of the year he announced £75m to fund a campaign involved with major businesses that wanted to create 800 new homes to help the homeless. 

Photo by Ev