One of London’s rough sleepers in a theatre doorway. Photo: Trish Carn
Rough sleepers on the increase
Government statistics show a 25% increase in rough sleeping
Rough sleeping in England has risen by almost a quarter in the last year, according to official government statistics. Quaker Homeless Action (QHA) has, for some time, predicted an increase in homelessness due to government cuts (see ‘Rise in homelessness expected’, 16 December 2011).
Charities expressed alarm over the news, saying that many homeless shelters are struggling to cope with the extra need. Church shelter schemes that opened this winter in Birmingham and Milton Keynes are already full to capacity.
The figures are based on information sent in by local authorities. The largest number of rough sleepers per head of population is in the south-west.
The news triggered sharp criticism of ministers from Housing Justice, a Christian-based network that works with Quaker Peace & Social Witness and the Quaker Housing Trust.
The Housing Justice director, Alison Gelder, said that ‘more and more’ people are at risk of losing their homes because of new limits on Local Housing Allowance. She called on ministers to ‘think again’ about the impact of their policies. ‘They could start by scrapping the benefit caps in the Welfare Reform Bill,’ she added.
