Crisis comment on Welsh rough sleeping statistics released today

Commenting on Welsh Government rough sleeping local estimate statistics for 2017 released today, which showed an increase of 10 per cent in rough sleepers compared with the previous year, Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis said:

“The rise in rough sleeping across Wales is alarming. If left unchecked rough sleeping could double in the next 20 years, according to Crisis research. But we have evidence to show how this situation can be turned around, and call on Welsh Government to work with us to develop the solutions to end rough sleeping for good.

“Behind these numbers are many people forced to sleep in dangerous and freezing conditions. Rough sleeping ruins lives, leaving people vulnerable to violence and abuse, and takes a dreadful toll on mental and physical health.”

“Wales has made big steps forward in tackling homelessness in recent years and we are ready to work closely with Welsh Government to ensure people who have to sleep rough can get into a suitable home as early as possible. We know more than ever about what works to end rough sleeping, so now is the time to take swift action together to end it for good.”

Notes 

1. The national rough sleeper count in Wales was based on a two-week information gathering exercise in October 2017 (Phase 1), followed by a one night snapshot count on 9th November 2017 (Phase 2). Local authorities estimated that 345 persons were sleeping rough across Wales over 2 weeks between 16^th and 29th October 2017 (up by 10% on 2016) and reported 188 individuals observed sleeping rough across Wales between the hours of 10pm on Thursday 9th and 5am on Friday 10th of November 2017 (up 33% on 2016). 
2. The evidence referred to is in Ending Rough Sleeping: What Works? An international evidence review (2017) by Mackie,P., Johnsen, S., and Wood, J. 
3. Projection figures for future homelessness in Wales come from Bramley, G. (2017) Homelessness projections: Core homelessness in Great Britain, London: Crisis.