Homelessness in England up 15% to almost 5,000 people

The number of rough sleepers has more than doubled since 2010, when the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition came to power, and has hit a record high after a 73% increase over the last three years.

Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, said the number of rough sleepers was far greater with more than 8,000 people living without shelter, without taking into account those sleeping in tents, cars, trains and buses.

London accounts for a quarter of all the rough sleepers and more specifically the area of Camden which saw its number jump from 17 to 127 people in just one year.

This jump in numbers has been particularly noticeable in the northwest of England where there was a 39% rise in one year from 313 homeless people to 434.

The National Audit Office revealed in September that the number of rough sleepers had increased 134% since the Conservative Party took power.

John Healey, the Shadow Housing Secretary, said: “These shameful figures are a terrible reminder of the consequences of a Conservative government."

“This is a direct result of decisions made by Conservative ministers: a steep drop in investment for affordable homes, crude cuts to housing benefit, reduced funding for homelessness services and a refusal to help private renters.”

Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said the government was "determined to help the most vulnerable in our society. That’s why we are providing over £1bn of funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping”>

The government also pledged to cut rough sleeping by half by 2022 and have it completely eradicated by 2027.