More than a dozen rough sleepers in Luton – as numbers across England soar
and live on Freeview channel 276
More than a dozen people were sleeping rough in Luton last year, new estimates show.
The Government previously pledged to end rough sleeping by 2024, but since the "Everyone In" scheme – which housed homeless people in emergency hotels during the coronavirus pandemic – ended in 2021, the number of people sleeping on the streets has rocketed. The latest Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities figures show 18 people were estimated to be sleeping rough in Luton based on a snapshot of a single night in autumn last year – up from 11 the year before.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdNationally, the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough rose by 27% last year to 3,898. This remains below pre-pandemic levels, but represents a significant increase of 60% in the last two years.
The count includes people sleeping outside, but does not cover sofa surfers, those in hostels or shelters, or people in recreational or traveller sites, and figures are generally considered to be an undercount of the true number.
Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, said the scale of rough sleeping is a "source of national shame". Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said the Government "cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the housing emergency".
Further DLUHC figures show 109,000 households in England were living in temporary accommodation as of September. This was up 10 per cent on the last year, and the highest figure on record. It included 984 households in Luton – 86 less than the year before.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMeanwhile, the number of children living in temporary accommodation also hit a record-high 142,490, including 1,862 in Luton.
A DLUHC spokesperson said: "We are now spending an unprecedented £2.4 billion to help people at risk of homelessness and support rough sleepers, including £220 million announced this week, which will help fund thousands of beds and specialist support services across the country through councils.
"Whilst we have made good progress and rough sleeping remains below pre-pandemic levels, there is more work to be done to meet our ambition to end it entirely, and we will continue to work with local authorities to help people off the streets for good."