Thousands classed as homeless in Brighton and Hove

Brighton and Hove topped Shelter’s list, and the charity said one in every 69 people in the city are classed as ‘homeless’.

The number of people living in temporary accommodation was 4,074, and there were 144 rough sleepers recorded, making a total of 4,218 people classed as homeless.

It comes as Shelter revealed the number of people recorded as homeless in the South East has reached 27,600.

In a report released today (November 8), the housing charity combined official rough-sleeping, temporary accommodation and social services figures, which showed the number of homeless people in the region has increased by 20 per cent in a year. However, it said as government records are not definitive, and that the true figure of homelessness is likely to be even higher.

Following Brighton on the list for high levels of homelessness were Milton Keynes, Slough and Gosport.

Polly Neate, CEO of Shelter, said: “It’s shocking to think that today, almost 28,000 people in the South East are waking up homeless. Some will have spent the night shivering on a cold pavement, others crammed into a dingy, hostel room with their children. And what is worse, many are simply unaccounted for.

“On a daily basis, we speak to people and families who are desperately trying to escape the devastating trap of homelessness. A trap that is tightening thanks to decades of failure to build enough affordable homes and the impact of welfare cuts.

“As this crisis continues to unfold, the work of our frontline advisers remains absolutely critical. We will do all we can to make sure no-one is left to fight homelessness on their own. But we cannot achieve this alone; we urgently need the public’s support to be there for everyone who needs us right now.”

The charity’s report ‘Far from alone: Homelessness in Britain in 2017’, covers the difficulty in escaping homelessness, the lack of affordable homes and welfare reforms, such as the four-year freeze on housing benefit.

Andy Winter, chief executive of Brighton Housing Trust, said: "These figures do not surprise me, but they sadden me deeply. Each one of these 4,218 individuals has uncertainty in their lives, and most will be experiencing the extreme hardship resulting from not having somewhere to call home.

“In one of the richest cities in one of the richest countries in the world, these figures highlight the human tragedy of homelessness as well the need for a radical change in government policy.

“We need a fundamental change in approach and a massive programme of council house building.

“Merely building more top of the range flats and houses in Brighton will do nothing to help this appalling situation. That will merely fuel the inflationary consequences resulting from people selling up and moving down from London.

“We are seeing people who have been in housing for a considerable amount of time losing their accommodation due to relation breakdowns and the ending of assured shorthold tenancies which has been the single greatest factor for people ending up homeless.

“Thank goodness that the majority of the 4,218 are not rough sleeping. As well as building new council houses, we need to prevent people losing their homes in the first place by continuing to ensure that housing and other advice services are properly funded.”

Responding to the report, Brighton and Hove City Council said: “Tackling the causes of rough sleeping and looking after people living on our streets are key priorities for us.

“Across the council and working with external partners, we are supporting people living on the streets, at risk of homelessness and in need of housing.

“There is a national crisis in the number of people facing the risk of homelessness.

“We know the introduction of Universal Credit and other related legislation is increasing the pressures on low income households across the country.

“In Brighton and Hove, where affordable housing is already in huge demand, these pressures are being felt sharply.

“We are doing everything we can to build new council homes and help bring back into use private sector properties that are for whatever reason empty.

“The level of need locally has been recognised by the government, which recently awarded us the highest grant in the south east to support homeless people and those at risk of homelessness.

“Alongside our partners in the city-wide rough sleeper strategy, we’ve seen around 1,500 people in the last year, of whom 1,300 have been helped away from the streets. Around half of the rough sleepers we work with do not have a local connection. In such cases we try to re-connect people with areas in the country where they have a local link as this gives a better chance of accessing housing and other support services they need.

“We are continually looking for new ways to help and support vulnerable rough sleepers to try to prevent the numbers of people in need rising.”

As a result of the report, Shelter has launched an urgent appeal to help the homeless in the UK.

To donate, text SHELTER to 70080 to donate £3, or visit: www.shelter.org.uk