Last year, Hillingdon saw dozens of individuals sleeping on the streets, according to recent estimates. This trend mirrors a national surge in homelessness across England, with advocacy groups attributing the rise to the government's perceived inability to address the housing crisis effectively.
Despite the government's previous commitment to eliminate rough sleeping by 2024, the numbers have seen a sharp increase since the conclusion of the "Everyone In" initiative in 2021. This program provided emergency housing in hotels for homeless individuals during the pandemic. The latest statistics from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities reveal that, on a single autumn night last year, approximately 35 people were estimated to be sleeping rough in Hillingdon, up from 23 the previous year.
Nationally, the figure for rough sleepers surged by 27%, reaching 3,898 individuals. Although this remains below pre-pandemic levels, it signifies a notable 60% rise in the past two years. It's crucial to note that these figures only account for those sleeping outdoors and may not accurately represent the true extent of homelessness, excluding sofa surfers, shelter residents, and those in recreational or traveler sites.
Matt Downie, the CEO of Crisis, expressed concern, calling the scale of rough sleeping a "source of national shame." He urged the government to reconsider its strategy and allocate long-term funding for proven solutions that help individuals transition away from life on the streets.
Polly Neate, CEO of Shelter, criticized the government for ignoring the housing emergency and failing to construct an adequate number of social homes. She highlighted the impact of soaring rents, forcing thousands to endure freezing nights on street corners. Neate also drew attention to the record number of people in temporary accommodation, with DLUHC figures indicating a 10% increase to 109,000 households in England as of September.
In Hillingdon alone, there was a 57% rise in households in temporary accommodation, totaling 1,070. The number of children living in temporary housing also reached a record high at 142,490 nationwide, including 1,462 in Hillingdon.
Responding to these concerns, a DLUHC spokesperson emphasized the government's unprecedented financial commitment of £2.4 billion to assist those at risk of homelessness and support rough sleepers. They acknowledged the ongoing work with local authorities to achieve the ambition of ending rough sleeping entirely, despite progress being made and numbers remaining below pre-pandemic levels
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