Throughout the past five years in the UK homelessness figures continue to rise.

The increasing worryingly high numbers of homeless and rough sleepers are soaring through our communities. A problem, of which no one should be faced with and certainly can no longer be ignored.

In a near end of the year report in 2015, gov.co.uk revealed shocking figures showing that, 56,500 people were accepted as homeless by authorities and 17,190(30%) — The highest percentage of the 56,500, had lost their home due to the end of assured short hold tenancies.

A timeline showing the figures of how many people have been accepted homeless by authorities in the past five years. Date source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness (Table 774.)

Last year, over 275,000 families were effected by homelessness which is up from 200,000 in 2010. Labour pointed that if numbers rise at current rate, more than 391,000 homeless families by 2020/21, according to The Independent.

But why is this still a growing concern when Gov.co.uk/emptyhomes/statistics shows that in Britain in 2015 there was over 200,000 long term empty homes(over 6 months).

Locally, in Lancashire there was 7,681 empty homes- 866 of these in Preston.

Graph showing the change in empty homes in Preston between 2010–2015. Date sourced from https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants (Table 615.)

With all these empty homes scattered around the country why are the vulnerable of our nation being able to fall into this terrible ordeal? Why isn’t the government doing enough to support the use of the empty homes?

I ran a recent twitter poll on my personal account over the issue, although only a minority took part, it reflects on a handful of the public on twitter which don’t think the government are doing enough to prevent this growing concern.

A recent twitter poll showing a reflection of a minority of voters who created a percentage of users(77%)believing not enough is being done to prevent homelessness and rough sleepers in local communities.

Another poll I ran, shows that almost each participant(95%) which took part in the vote believe that the public don’t know enough on the crisis.

A recent Twitter poll from my personal account showing 95% of users which voted believe that the public don’t know enough about homelessness.

Maybe, with the right amount of education and awareness of the topic, the public could spot rough sleepers and homeless more effectively, enabling people to help give advice on the right places to go for support.

I interviewed a Psychology student, Maria Harper, 20, where she explains on how she wasn’t aware of the extent in the rise of numbers, as well as how she thinks that more and what should be done by the government:

Interview with Maria Harper, Psychology student on the views of homelessness. Image source: http://www.bigissue.com/the-mix/news/5215/supreme-court-ruling-supports-the-homeless-and-vulnerable

“England is sleepwalking into a homelessness crisis, and we’ve yet to hear what our new Government intends to do about it…” Said Jon Sparkes, the chief executive of Crisis.

When looking more in-depth to the issue closer to home, Preston, I recently visited Toma Sukyte, A local community worker of the Foxton Centre, Preston, A shelter for the homeless and rough sleepers of the local area which provides a safe place for the vulnerable and less fortunate.

“Preston is one of the worst areas for street beggars, for homeless and rough sleepers, in the whole of Lancashire and I think, even the whole North West area, Preston is really one of the worst area’s.”

She gave me a broader understanding of just how complicated this situation is, as well as the help the shelter she works for provides.

“Everyone is welcome to come in and have a hot drink, a cheap healthy meal and they can have food parcels as well. We also help people with accommodation, job searches, benefit systems and general support, sometimes people just need someone to talk to.”

Interview with Toma Sukyte, community worker at the Foxton Centre, Preston.

According to Crisis, there is no official figures on the amount of people that are currently rough sleeping or are homeless, authorities only have a duty to house ‘statutory’ homeless people even though every year, tens of thousands of people apply to their local authority for homelessness assistance.

Will the government ever go a head make a drastic change and help our nations unfortunate? Or will we see a further rise of numbers in the next five years? Where is our country heading?

To find out more on the organizations helping the less fortunate, click here:
Crisis
The Foxton Centre