‘Shame’ as number of rough sleepers rises by 23 per cent

Snapshot figures from a night last autumn indicated there were 2,181 rough sleepers, up from 1,768 the previous year.

London, the South East and the South West had the highest number, with 446, 430 and 337 respectively. The North East had the lowest with 32.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps confirmed that councils would receive £18.5m to help tackle rough sleeping, on top of £400m already earmarked to prevent homelessness.

“This country has some of the best homelessness services for those who become destitute in the world, but rough sleeping is still on the rise, and I want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to prevent anyone spending a second night on the street,” he said.

He also highlighted separate data showing that more than half of rough sleepers in London came from overseas, with a rise in numbers from Central and Eastern Europe.

Mr Shapps said: “Anyone heading here with tales of Dick Whittington in their head needs to realise that the streets of London and our other cities aren’t paved with gold.

“Those arriving from beyond our shores to try and carve out a future in England should come with a thought-through plan to avoid the risk of sleeping on the streets.”

Campbell Robb, chief executive of charity Shelter, said the figures were a cause for “shame”.

“These figures are just the tip of the homelessness iceberg, with many more hidden from view and moving from sofa to sofa in desperate need of a home to call their own,” he said.

“The only way Government can tackle this national scandal is with bold, urgent action to address the long-term causes of homelessness, alongside efforts to get people off the streets.”