Uncategorized

Rough sleeping: figures have risen by 20%…

no comments
0
0

A record number of people are sleeping rough in London according to new figures.

Between July and September 2018 there has been a total of 3,103 rough sleepers were found in the London. This is the highest figure since they have been recorded.

The new figure has risen by 20% in the previous three months (January to March). It has been said that there is not enough affordable housing that the homeless can access.

The housing charity Crisis called the rising figure “a disaster for every single person experiencing life on the streets”.

The Housing and Homelessness Minister, Heather Wheeler, said “We have set out bold plans backed by £100m to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and end it by 2027, as part of a £1.2bn investment in tackling all forms of homelessness.

“We are also working closely with London boroughs and the Greater London Authority and are providing them with £23.3m through our Rough Sleeping Initiative.

“With this funding, we are looking to them to deliver critical support to get people off the streets.”

What causes homelessness?

On average, homeless people die at just 47 years old.

People on the streets are almost 17 times more likely to be victims of violence, one in three people have been hit or kicked deliberately by some members of the public.

People become homeless for many different reasons, the most common are poverty, lack of affordable housing and unemployment. People can easily become homeless when they leave the army, prison or care as they have no home to go back to. Many women and men that are homeless have escaped a violent relationship.

Rent and house prices are on the rise, so some may just not be able to afford the payments and have no option but to camp out on the streets. Homeless people may also have suffered life events that have caused them to become homeless, these events may be losing a job, mental health or misuse of substances.

Skip to toolbar