More rough sleepers in Waverley

More people in Waverley are sleeping rough as numbers across England hit a high post-pandemic level.

Recently published results revealed that six people were sleeping rough in Waverley, more than the year before, when there were three rough sleepers.

This was also higher than in 2021 when the Government’s Everyone In programme was implemented, when there was just one.

Nationally, the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough rose by 20% last year to 4,667.

This is the second-highest level on record and almost twice the total in 2021.

The Government’s ‘Everyone In’ campaign aimed to eliminate homelessness and provided thousands of people with accommodation during the coronavirus pandemic.

But numbers across England have soared following the pandemic, rising for the third successive year, a situation branded “unacceptable” by homelessness charities.

Each year, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government conducts a national snapshot survey of rough sleeping on a specific night in autumn.

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 the figures are generally considered to be an undercount of the actual number.

Matt Downie, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, said the figures “paint a desperate picture”, with thousands “at significant risk of violence, extreme weather and even premature death”.

“It’s an emergency, and it must spur action,” he said.

“The Westminster Government has a once in a generation opportunity to deliver transformative change through its upcoming strategy to end homelessness.”

“If the Government is serious about tackling the housing emergency, we must see ambitious investment in social housing in June’s Spending Review.

“Investing in 90,000 social rent homes a year for 10 years would give families a fighting chance and end homelessness for good.”

Minister for Homelessness Rushanara Ali said the figures show the “devastating impact” of the housing crisis the Government inherited.

She added: “We’re taking determined action to turn the tide, and that’s why this week, this Government stepped in to double our emergency homelessness funding to £60 million as an immediate support for councils to keep people in their homes.

“This comes alongside the £1 billion we have already committed this year to tackle the root causes of homelessness, including the largest ever investment in preventative services, so we can put in place long-lasting solutions, not just sticking plasters, to end this crisis.”

5 thoughts on “More rough sleepers in Waverley”

  2. Where are all these “AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES” ‘PROMISED BY THIS BAD JOKE OF A GOVERNMENT’
    It seems that asylum seekers and Economic Migrants have first DIBS at most money which should be destined for HONEST UK HOMELESS AND NOT FOR those who have thrown their PASSPORTS IN THE SEA, BUT for those who have a genuine first claim on any handouts the Government is OFFERING.
    This GOVERNMENT are just handing out without any justification and leaving Ex SOLDIERS THE AGED AND YOUNG AND OTHERS TO SLEEP ROUGH OR IN A TENT??
    Put ALL the Boat people in Army tents and sort them out how ever long it takes. No Hotel rooms, Mobiles ,Warm clothing, Pocket Money Free use of our National Health Hospitals and Doctors or the further insult , giving them POCKET MONEY when our homeless are begging on the streets just to put something in their stomachs.
    WHY NOT LET the illegal immigrants have the use of a Soup Kitchen and give them a sleeping bag! The UK will not look so inviting then but if they are coming from War Torn Countries this would be safe and reasonably comfortable and acceptable where they then can be processed and dealt with accordingly!
    BUT NOT given housing UNTIL ALL OUR HOMELESS AND FAMILIES STUCK IN BELOW STANDARD HOMES ARE RE HOUSED THEN OFFER TO THE EDUCATED MIGRANT WHO IS CAPABLE OF WORKING FOR A LIVING AND WHO WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY BENEFITS FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF PAYING FOR NATIONAL INSURANCE AND TAX THEY THEN CAN ASK FOR THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY TO JOIN THEM?????WHY IS THIS NOT FAIR TO THE REST OF HARD WORKING UK?
    THIS IS MY OPINION AT AGED 78 AND FEARFUL FOR THE SAFETY OF THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS OF GENUINE CITIZENS!

    Reply

    1. WW sympathises with your sentiments. We hear from grandparents all over the borough of Waverley who are doing everything they can to help their grandchildren take a step on the property ladder.

      Reply

      1. I just hope your ladder has some strong rungs. Many ladders in recent years have proved to be very wobbly indeed! Life is not just about status, and it is not essential to buy a house to live in. A much better idea is to cut your cloth according to your means, and don’t buy if you cannot sustain the mortgage payments!

  3. The last government and local planning authorities were too keen to allow developers evade their responsibility to build affordable homes, which in many cases remained unaffordable so that developers could maximise their profit. As a councillor on the planning committee I was not allowed to see the developers evasion tactics because of “commercial sensitivity.” Eventually this stupidity ended, planning too often works for private profit not public good.

    Reply

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