The average number of people found sleeping this year has increased on 2023
An increase in people seeking asylum and prisoners being released early risks adding to Liverpool’s already climbing rough sleeping figures, new council documents have warned. As the temperatures begin to drop, the city council is beginning to prepare to support those most in need of housing support.
A new report to be debated by councillors next week has set out the wide-ranging challenges the local authority faces in giving people a bed in the cold weather. Earlier this week, the council confirmed it already faces a significant financial pressure in providing vital homelessness services.
The documents, made public ahead of the sustainable, safe and thriving neighbourhoods committee, said the increasing number of people seeking asylum being awarded the right to stay in the UK means they are being asked to leave Home Office provision quickly. As a result, they “may have not been deemed as priority need” and with little opportunities to source accommodation of their own quickly may be at risk of rough sleeping.
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As it stands, Liverpool’s trend of rough sleeping has ticked upward throughout 2024 when compared to the same period last year. The average number of people seen each night rough sleeping between April and September 2024 was 30, an increase on the average of 22 people seen per night over the same period in 2023.
The council report added this could be compounded further by the government’s programme of early prison releases. While discussions are progressing on this, officials said they do anticipate “a yet unknown effect on rough sleeping.”
Liverpool Council said it needs to consider how it has sufficient and immediate solutions for any new rough sleepers it encounters “as we approach the worst of winter” and the risks are most acute. As part of this, thought is being given to the reinstatement of the winter night assessment hub as used in January this year.
The report said: “While at this stage, no firm decision has been made, work to review the arrangements, should such a facility be deemed necessary, is in progress. The building previously used for this facility earlier in 2024 in a location close to the city centre, has again been offered to the council at nil cost by the owner.
“The necessary assessments, permissions and testing of equipment is in progress. We have reviewed the staffing requirements and considered what might be the most appropriate support model based on lessons learnt from the previous operation, a review of the recent rough sleeping trends and the anticipated forthcoming challenges, referenced earlier in this note.”
Of those found rough sleeping so far this year, almost half were between the ages of 26 and 50, with 79% male. More than three quarters identified as white with almost 25% recorded as having a disability.
