STREET homelessness is up by a third in Stratford.
Government figures released by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show 33 per cent more people are sleeping rough in Stratford, with an increase of 50 per cent across Warwickshire, since 2021.
Homelessness charity Emmaus Coventry and Warwickshire said this sharp rise – from 16 to 24 people counted sleeping rough across the county in a single night – four of which were in Stratford – is particularly worrying, especially when compared to the overall national increase of 26 per cent in England.
The data was collected as part as part of the government’s Rough Sleeping Snapshot in England for 2022. These statistics, released in February each year, reveal a snapshot of the number of people sleeping rough during a single autumn night in local authorities across England.
Emmaus Coventry and Warwickshire continued that this rise is of great concern.
Chief Executive Julian Price said: “Today’s figures are worrying and show that this is a problem that shouldn’t be ignored. We strongly believe that these figures are also just the tip of the iceberg.
Homelessness is all around us and so much of it isn’t visible. With the cost-of-living crisis deepening, we know that so many people are living in unsecure or unsuitable accommodation, are having to sofa surf or are doing whatever they can to stay warm and dry over the winter months.”
Emmaus Coventry and Warwickshire provides a home, support and meaningful work for up to 17 people who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion.
