Figures released today by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show a 70% increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Oxford on a single night compared with the previous year.
This rise is incredibly worrying, especially when compared to the annual increase of 27% across England.
The data was collected by outreach workers, local charities, and community groups in association with Oxford City Council as part of the government’s Rough Sleeping Snapshot in England.
Responding to the statistics, Eddie Blaze, Chief Executive of Emmaus Oxford, said: “The numbers released today are really worrying. The count shows the number of people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2023, which does not account for people living in temporary accommodation, sofa surfing, staying in hostels or sleeping in cars. The real number of people without homes is likely much higher.
“The government must act to prevent more people being forced into homelessness and support people who are currently forced to live without a home. In addition to this, we are seeing an increased number of support needs from people moving to our community after experiencing homelessness.
“The UK Government is trying to pass the Criminal Justice Bill, which contains proposals that would mean people who are homeless in England and Wales could face fines or even prison time for rough sleeping. Money needs to be spent on homes that people can afford, mental health services, and programmes to support those in need. Emmaus UK has joined 36 other leading homelessness charities in an open letter to the Chancellor urgently addressing the dire financial situation facing homelessness services.’’
About the rough sleeping figures
The rough sleeping snapshot was compiled on a single night in autumn 2023. The figures were collected by local authorities who either conduct a count or submit an estimate of the number of people sleeping rough on that night.
Find out how to get help from Emmaus Oxford.