Number of rough sleepers in Mansfield drops – as England sees first rise since 2017

The figures come as the number of rough sleepers across England rose for the first time since 2017, despite a Government manifesto promise to end rough sleeping by 2024.

Housing charity Shelter said homelessness is in a “bleak situation” with a rising number of rough sleepers and tens of thousands of households turning up at local councils asking for help.

It urged the Government to unfreeze housing benefit – which remains at 2020 levels – and build more affordable social homes.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities figures show nine people were estimated to be sleeping rough in Mansfield based on a snapshot of a single night in autumn last year, down from 10 the year before.

Coun Marion Bradshaw, Mansfield Council portfolio holder for community safety, housing and wellbeing, said: “As part of the council’s homelessness prevention strategy, we are always aiming to permanently reduce the number of people sleeping rough in Mansfield.

“While we continue to have a handful of people living on the streets in the district, I am pleased the figure was slightly less last year compared with the previous year and that this is bucking the national trend which has seen an increase in rough sleeping.

“We believe this is evidence our strategy in Mansfield is having a positive effect and I am proud of the approach we are taking to this complex social problem.

“Our First Steps project, in particular, has been successful in transforming the lives of rough sleepers.”

First Steps, which has helped 61 people in Mansfield since its launch in April 2020, was last year awarded more than £1 million to keep it running for another three years.

The scheme, run in partnership with organisations including Action Housing and Change Grow Live, aims to give former rough sleepers a stable home from which to rebuild their lives. “with the help of intensive, holistic, person-centred and open-ended support for issues such as addiction and mental health to maximise their chances of sustaining a tenancy”.

The Government promised to eradicate homelessness by next year, but charities have called for greater action as the total number of rough sleepers across the country rose for the first time since 2017.

The figures suggest 3,069 people were estimated to be sleeping rough in England last year – a 26 per cent rise on the 2,443 rough sleepers in 2021.

Polly Neate, Shelter chief executive, said: “The figures show more and more people are losing the battle to keep a roof over their heads. We’re facing a truly bleak situation.”

The figures also show the rate of rough sleepers has risen across the country, from 4.3 per 100,000 people in 2021 to 5.4 per 100,000 last year.

In Mansfield, 8.1 per 100,000 people were estimated to be sleeping rough last year, down from 9.0 the previous year.

The DLUHC said rough sleeping remains below pre-pandemic levels but admits “there is more to do” to end rough sleeping for good.