New figures show reality of housing and homelessness crisis in Liverpool as city council launches major new plan to tackle it
New figures have revealed the staggering number of people who are homeless right now in Liverpool as the city council sets out a major new plan to tackle the crisis.
Last year, Liverpool Council declared a homelessness and housing emergency as it struggled to deal with the overwhelming numbers of people finding themselves in desperate circumstances and without a permanent roof over their heads.
In a new update, the council says there remains an ‘unprecedented’ level of demand, with the current figure for households in the city in temporary accommodation standing at 1,245. Last year the cost of supporting those in temporary housing cost the cash-strapped local authority more than £21m – an enormous 12,000 per cent increase on the previous five years. This year that figure is set to rise to £28m.
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The latest rough sleeping data also shows the number of long-term rough sleepers in the city has risen by more than 40% in the past two years. Last month (October), an average of 29 rough sleepers were seen per night.
Housing pressures in Liverpool are exacerbated by the fact that just 1,500 social housing properties become available each year, whilst 13,000 people are listed on the waiting list. Over the past year, the Liverpool ECHO has published a number of features and investigations delving into the city’s homelessness crisis, speaking to those affected and the people trying to help.
Research by the council shows that the top three reasons for homelessness are now people whose family and friends no longer willing to accommodate them, domestic abuse and the loss of assured shorthold tenancies.
Liverpool Council has now launched a public consultation on its proposals to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the city. The council has set out a draft five-year strategy outlining a number of plans for the prevention of homelessness and for ensuring sufficient accommodation and support is available.
The 48-page draft document has been developed over the past 18 months following a series of workshops with stakeholders and service users and a comprehensive review of the council’s Front Door to Homelessness Services, as well as an in-depth focus on its Housing Options Service.
Councillor Sam East, Liverpool Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Everyone in our city deserves a safe, suitable and secure home. A good home is the foundation of a successful life – the bedrock of your education, employment, family life, physical and mental health. It should be available to everyone. Sadly though, we recognise that this isn’t the case for too many of our residents.
“Our city, like many across the country, is experiencing increasing homelessness – and risk of homelessness. There are a variety of factors at play, including national policy issues outside of our control. However, we are determined to play our part in shielding our residents from homelessness and this strategy is the foundation.
“Too often, responding to homelessness is a reactive, emergency process. That has to change. We know that people experience housing stress in a variety of ways, beyond the most extreme form – rough sleeping on our streets. That’s why our draft Homelessness Strategy puts places and importantly people at the heart of decision making around homelessness.
“We want to hear from as many people as possible in this consultation and by building on our excellent relationships with our partners together we can help tackle homelessness in our city. Homelessness causes great financial strain on the Council but a far greater impact on the individuals and families that experience it.
“We cannot deliver a robust Homelessness Strategy without input from our people and our stakeholders in the voluntary, charity and faith sectors who provide such invaluable support to people experiencing housing stress. Please have your say on this draft strategy to help us further shape our proposals and deliver on our shared priorities.”
