The number of rough sleepers in Swindon has seen a significant rise over the last three years.

Data from Swindon Borough Council has revealed that the average number of people classified as "sleeping rough" in the town has increased from 10 in 2021 to 15 in the past year.

The number of people sleeping rough in 2022 was recorded as nine, the lowest number in the four-year period.

The data and research was gathered by Freedom of Information requests to Swindon Borough Council.

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Rough sleeping is a visible type of homelessness that includes sleeping outdoors or in locations not meant for habitation, such as cars, doorways, and abandoned structures.

The average lifespan of a rough sleeper is alarmingly short, with men and women averaging just 44 and 42 years, respectively, in 2018.

Many of these individuals have to deal with complex physical and mental health issues, including addiction.

The charity Riverside, which offers hostel accommodation, says there has been no significant investment in English hostels since 2011.

Between 2010 and 2022, the number of available bed spaces in the country fell by nearly a quarter.

John Glenton, Riverside's executive director, said: "Increased investment in supported housing would provide more spaces to help get more people out of temporary accommodation into a dedicated space where they can receive the support they need.

"These services provide a route out of homelessness and help to reduce spending on very expensive, and often inadequate, temporary housing."

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Recent government statistics indicate that over 358,370 households sought help from their local authorities in 2023-24 due to the threat of homelessness, marking a rise of more than ten per cent in just a year.

Of those, 324,990 were deemed homeless.

The number of people sleeping rough in a single night during autumn 2023 was 3,898.

This figure represents more than a quarter of an increase from the 3,069 recorded in 2022 and is more than double the 1,768 people who were on the streets in 2010.

Advice.co.uk, an organisation providing free advice and support to people with housing-related issues, has been instrumental in shedding light on these concerning trends.

The rise in rough sleeping has been attributed to a combination of factors, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, cuts to council budgets, and the rising cost of living.

Homelessness charities have labelled these statistics as "shameful" and have urged the government to take immediate action to eradicate rough sleeping.

 

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