Number Of Shelter Beds For Homeless People Drops By A Fifth Under Conservatives

The number of beds in homeless shelters has plummeted since the Conservatives came to power, despite homelessness having soared in the same period. Bed space for single homeless people in England has dropped by almost a fifth since 2010 amid government funding cuts and local council belt-tightening. There are now significantly fewer places for single homeless people to go, despite the number needing somewhere to spend the night having rocketed. Since 2010, homelessness and rough sleeping have risen in every year. The number of people sleeping rough has risen by 169 per cent, while the figure for people being declared homeless by local councils is up 48 per cent. Read more on the Independent website.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/homeless-shelter-theresa-may-conservatives-beds-housing-statistics-rough-sleeping-a8303391.html

Council Opens First Empty Buildings For Homeless

Empty council buildings in Manchester are to be used as overnight shelters for the city's rough sleepers. The former Hulme Library building and the former Beech Mount Children's Home in Harpurhey are the first to be opened up from next month. Homeless organisations will be able to refer people to the temporary accommodation. The council is also assessing other empty buildings across the city. It is part of an ongoing campaign to improve services for homeless people and increase the amount of bed spaces over the winter. The move will result in an extra 165 bed spaces. Read more on the Manchester City Council website.

Homelessness Services Lose Almost 4,000 Bed Spaces

Figures released by Homeless Link reveal that almost 4,000 bed spaces have been lost in accommodation services for homeless people, as the latest Government statistics show a 16% rise in demand for homelessness services. The research by Homeless Link, the umbrella organisation for homelessness services in England, also highlights that more than half of local authorities no longer provide hostel accommodation for homeless people. It finds that:

    *62% of local authorities have no direct access hostels (a rise from just 1 in 4 areas having no hostel accommodation in 2008)

    *More bed spaces have been lost in the past six months than in the preceding 12 months

Read more on the Homeless Link website.