News / Society
Council ‘relief’ at Bristol homeless survey
The number of people sleeping rough in Bristol has remained at the peak level reached last year over last 12 months, according to an annual count.
Some 41 people were found to be spending the night on the streets during a survey on a night last month.
Forty people were found to be living on the streets during a similar count last year, despite an average number of just 27 throughout November 2013, after a sharp rise in the number since 2012.
Bristol City Council officials blamed the rise on government welfare reforms, in combination with poor housing and employment markets. The figures do not take into account the much larger number of people forced to live in temporary accommodation.
Despite the mayor George Ferguson making homelessness a “top priority”, the figures have remained static in the last 12 months.
Nick Hooper from the council said the authority was “relieved” that the number of people counted in this year’s annual ‘census’ was no higher than 2013.
“However, even one person sleeping on the streets is one too many, and we will be redoubling our efforts to find solutions for people, and also to try and prevent it happening in the first place,” he added.
Mayor Ferguson said earlier this year the issue of homelessness was “one of the biggest concerns that we face as a city and one of the most difficult challenges”.
He said the council needed to find ways of working together with other agencies and charities to cope with the increase in demand for help and support.
Responding to the new count, he added: “While it is a relief that the number of people sleeping rough in Bristol has not risen in the last 12 months, it remains a priority for me to get everyone off the streets and into a home of their own.
“The number of homelessness applications we deal with has gone up sharply for many reasons, from house prices to welfare reform to personal crises.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe and warm when they go to sleep at night, and we all have a duty to work together to address these issues and help our most vulnerable citizens.”
Picture: Photographee.eu/Shuttestock
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