Harrogate has ‘staggering’ homelessness

Harrogate Homeless Project said in the past 12 months it has had more than 150 referrals to its new homelessness scheme, No Second Night Out, far many more than had been anticipated.

The survey, however, shows that awareness of the problem is low among people in the town with 20 per cent of residents failing to believe there is a problem with homelessness in the area and a further 44 per cent believing there is only a small problem.

Andy Kirk, transition fund project leader at Harrogate Homeless Project, said: “Even we have been surprised by the number of people coming through the door.

“You might not see people sleeping on the streets but there are people sleeping rough in fields, in their cars and in local parks.

“And it isn’t always what it seems. Many people become homeless after a relationship breakdown, redundancy or are just struggling in these difficult times.”

The project was chosen last year as one of 18 towns and cities in England to roll out No Second Night Out, a programme designed to intervene as soon as a person becomes homeless. The charity works with other agencies to support the person into accommodation and jobs.