Rough sleeping in Wakefield district rises by 30 per cent

Rough sleeping in Wakefield has risen by more than 30 per cent since 2010, it has been revealed.
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Across Yorkshire and the Humber, the number of rough sleepers has risen by more than 110 per cent in the same period.

According to official figures, there were a total of 242 rough sleepers in the region in 2019, compared to just 115 in 2010.

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In Wakefield, the number of rough sleepers rose from 10 to 13 in the same period.

Rough sleeping in Wakefield has risen by more than 30 per cent since 2010, it has been revealed. Stock image.Rough sleeping in Wakefield has risen by more than 30 per cent since 2010, it has been revealed. Stock image.
Rough sleeping in Wakefield has risen by more than 30 per cent since 2010, it has been revealed. Stock image.

It comes as the Labour party calls for the government to seize a "once in a generation" chance to bring an end to rough sleeping.

A spokesperson for the party said: "The Government has rightly committed to protecting vulnerable rough sleepers for the duration of the pandemic. However, the dedicated funding to house rough sleepers is set to run out and no clear plans or resources have been put in place by Government for what happens next.

"The Government needs to provide clarity on their 'Everyone In' policy, to include those made homeless during the lockdown, and certainty over the future funding arrangements.

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"Without this we could see rough sleepers ending up back on the streets."

According to the official figures, released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, rough sleeping in Wakefield peaked in 2012, when a "snapshot night" found 17 rough sleepers in the district.

This figure then fell to nine rough sleepers the following year, before rising gradually to the current figure.

In their Rough Sleeping Strategy, published in 2018, the government laid out a plan to halve the number of rough sleepers by 2022 and "end it for good by 2027", including £100m of investment over the next two years.

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James Brokenshire MP, who was then Secretary for State of Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: "Central and local government must work together to ensure everyone in our society has the dignity and security they need.

"We cannot underestimate just how vital having your own front door is to someone’s sense of security, hope and recovery.

"Ultimately, the real test of its success will be on the ground; in not just putting a roof over people’s heads but helping them find and make a place really feel like home.

"These people, some of the most vulnerable in our society, deserve our full support."

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At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the government urged Local Authorities to do everything they could to find housing for rough sleepers, a policy Labour said should be continued "when this crisis is over".

Wakefield Council provides advice and assistance for rough sleepers and those who are concerned about them on their website.