Thousands more to spend Christmas without a home this year, research shows
The charity Shelter have released new stats which shows homelessness has gone up by 20 per cent in the space of a year
Last updated 14th Dec 2023
Thousands more people across the South West are spending Christmas 2023 without a home, according to new stats released today (December 14) by the charity Shelter.
Across our region, they understand 'at least' 12,500 people are currently homeless - including more than 5,300 children.
That's an increase of 20% in the space of one year.
Shelter’s comprehensive analysis of official homelessness figures and responses to Freedom of Information requests reveal homelessness in the region has risen rapidly in just 12 months: over 400 people are sleeping rough on any given night (25% increase) and 11,500 are living in temporary accommodation (19% increase) - most of whom are families.
Bristol has the highest number of people without a home, with 3,200 people homeless, followed by Cornwall where 1,900 people are homeless and Plymouth with 880 people.
The stats show for this year:
- Bristol - 3224 people are homeless (1 in 147)
- Gloucester - 474 (1 in 280)
- Swindon - 784 (1 in 298)
- Plymouth - 885 (1 in 299)
- Cornwall - 1900 (1 in 300)
- Somerset Council - 523 (1 in 301)
- Torridge - 199 (1 in 343)
- Torbay - 339 (1 in 411)
- Dorset - 742 (1 in 512)
- North Devon - 187 (1 in 527)
Councils have a legal duty to house families and people who are vulnerable, but the acute shortage of affordable homes means they are having to rely on temporary accommodation for long periods - including in hostels, B&Bs and bedsits, with many often having to share beds with no, or inadequate, cooking and laundry facilities.
Shelter say those not entitled to accommodation may end up on the streets, sofa-surfing or in dangerous living conditions.
Stuart Francis-Dubois, Plymouth Service Lead at Shelter, said: “Homelessness is on nobody’s Christmas list, but 12,500 people in the South West will spend this time of year in a tiny hostel room or freezing in a doorway.
“The housing emergency is out of control. Chronic underinvestment in social homes has left people unable to afford skyrocketing private rents and plunged record numbers into homelessness. It is appalling that the government has allowed thousands of families to be packed into damp and dirty B&B’s and hostel rooms, which are traumatising children and making people desperately ill.
“Until the government takes this emergency seriously, our frontline services will do everything they can to help people keep or find a safe home this winter. It is only with the public’s support that we can continue to provide vital advice and support and fight for the solutions people want and need to end homelessness. To donate to Shelter’s Urgent Appeal, visit shelter.org.uk/donate.”
While Shelter’s analysis is the most comprehensive overview of recorded homelessness in England, the true figure is likely to be higher as some types of homelessness, like sofa-surging, go entirely undocumented.
To find out more about Shelter’s Urgent Winter Appeal, click here.