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“Unacceptable” and “must do better” as Preston records highest rough sleeper count since records began

Posted on - 20th March, 2024 - 7:00am | Author - | Posted in - Charities, Health, Housing, Politics, Preston City Centre, Preston Council, Preston News, South Ribble Locations
Sleeping bags in the rain on Fishergate, Preston. Pic: Blog Preston
Sleeping bags in the rain on Fishergate, Preston. Pic: Blog Preston

New figures have shown that Preston had the highest amount of rough sleepers in Lancashire last year.

The data, published by the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, provided a snapshot of the amount of people sleeping on the streets on one single night in Autumn 2023.

Preston’s figures were the highest, reaching 27 people in one night, over double the number recorded in 2022 and the highest number since records began in 2010.

Read more: Preston City Council backs critical change in Renters Reform Bill to reduce homelessness

The snapshot looked at all 14 Lancashire County Council Boroughs, with Rossendale having zero and South Ribble having two rough sleepers.

Overall, the data showed 103 people rough sleeping compared with 60 who were recorded in the previous count.

Preston has been piloting a temporary night service at St George’s Church since November last year. The scheme allows rough sleepers to access 15-bed spaces each night.

In February, Preston City Council had 35 people come off the street into different accommodation pathways.

As the service is full almost every night, the council are hoping to extend the service so it runs all year round, instead of only in the winter months.

Read more: An insight into what life is like on Preston’s streets for the homeless

Mandy Stitt, rough sleeper co-ordinator at Preston City Council said: “We are beginning to see some successes but the biggest challenge is finding another place for the night service.”

St George's Church in Preston. Pic: Blog Preston
St George’s Church in Preston. Pic: Blog Preston

Read more: Preston City Council leader Matthew Brown on Guild Hall, Preston Model, public scrutiny and more

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the average age of death of a rough sleeper in the UK is 45 for men and 43 for women, due to the number of health problems from sleeping on the streets.

Jeff Marsh, CEO of The Foxton Centre, a homelessness charity based on Fox Street which provides a 14-bed emergency accommodation among other initiatives said: “That is shocking, what are we going to do about that?

“If you have a decent place to live, you’ll live a happier and longer life.

“Sadly some people are left on the streets because people think they are ‘too hard to work with’ and that’s even worse. We need to do better.”

Read more: Former bowling green in Fishwick becomes new supported-living homes

Emmaus Preston is another homelessness charity which provides those who may be forced to rough sleep a home, work and support.

Emmaus Preston's community home in Ribbleton Lane
Emmaus Preston’s community home in Ribbleton Lane

Stephen Buchanan, director of the charity said: “These figures are totally unacceptable; one person rough sleeping is one too many.

“Emmaus UK has joined 36 other leading homelessness charities in an open letter to call on the Chancellor to urgently address the dire financial situation facing homelessness services.

“More people rough sleeping in Preston year-on-year is shocking.”

Read more: Big PNE Sleep Out sees wet weather braved at Deepdale

The count includes people sleeping outside, for example in doorways, parks or bus shelters. However, it did not include those who may be forced to sleep in cars, empty buildings or public toilets.

Stephen added: “When we are looking at the numbers of these people, taking in all forms of homelessness, the true figure of homelessness in this city is much higher.”

Across the whole of England, the figures had increased for the second year in a row, up 27 per cent from the previous year.

Read more: Big PNE Sleep Out fund total presented to The Foxton Centre

If you see someone sleeping rough the best thing to do is contact ‘StreetLink,’ where Preston’s outreach team will be sent an alert after you fill in a quick form about what you have seen. 

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