Government figures released today show that rough sleeping across Leicestershire and Rutland has increased significantly, rising from 51 to 84 people since 2023 – an overall increase of 65%.
Within this, Leicester city has seen numbers rise from 26 to 61. This rise is sadly in line with a national trend, as rough sleeping across England has increased by 20% overall.
The data comes from the government’s annual Rough Sleeping Snapshot in England, which provides a single-night estimate of rough sleeping in local authorities across the country.
However, we believe these figures are just the tip of the iceberg. Many people experiencing homelessness remain hidden – sofa surfing, staying in temporary accommodation, or living in unsafe conditions to avoid sleeping on the streets. They don’t appear in these statistics, but they still need urgent support.
We are deeply concerned by these statistics, which reflect what we’re seeing locally – more people struggling to find a stable home. Rough sleeping has been increasing in recent years, and more people than ever are now at risk.
We believe that long-term solutions are essential to tackling this crisis. More investment in homelessness services and social housing is urgently needed to prevent more people from being pushed into rough sleeping. Alongside this, charities like ours play a vital role in giving people the chance to rebuild their lives. By providing a stable home, tailored support, and work opportunities, we help people move forward and avoid returning to homelessness.