Today’s government figures have revealed an 11% increase in people sleeping rough across Leicestershire and Rutland. In the Hinckley and Bosworth area, there was a 67% increase.
The figures released today (29 February) by the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, counted 51 people visibly street homeless in 2023, up from 46 the previous year across Leicestershire and Rutland; 5 of these were in the Hinckley and Bosworth area.
This is the second year in a row that numbers in the local area have increased, according to the data collected as part of the government’s Rough Sleeping Snapshot in England for 2023. Released each year in February, these statistics provide a snapshot of the number of people sleeping rough during a single autumn night in local authorities across England.
Worrying
Today’s figures are really worrying, but we firmly believe that they merely scratch the surface. Homelessness is sadly all around us and much of it remains invisible. With the continuing cost-of-living crisis, many people are living in insecure or unsuitable places, crashing on sofas, or doing whatever they can to stay sheltered through the winter. These people would not have been included in the numbers because they aren’t visibly sleeping out in the open.
Want to help?
Find out how you can support your local homelessness charity.