Sentamu urges end to scourge of homelessness in affluent city

A new wide-ranging initiative was launched in York yesterday in a bid to provide a more co-ordinated approach to tackling the problem of rough sleepers.

Leading officials from charities and York Council warned there has been a small but significant increase in the number of people who have been forced to sleep out on the ancient city’s streets in the last 12 months.

They also said the social stereotypes that all rough sleepers have found themselves in the dire predicament because of spiralling problems of drink and drug addiction, coupled with mental health issues, are not 100 per cent accurate.

The Archbishop, Dr John Sentamu, who spoke at the No Second Night Out project’s launch, also said homelessness is now affecting a far wider section of society.

He said: “Those suffering from mental health or addiction problems make up a large proportion of those living on our streets. However, the financial crisis of the past few years has also had a devastating effect on many people, with individuals and families finding themselves without employment, losing their homes and falling into a frighteningly swift downward spiral into homelessness and despair.”

Official figures have shown there were eight rough sleepers a night in York last year – up from just two during 2011.

However, the number has fallen sharply from a peak of 24 in 1999 after a more co-ordinated strategy was launched.

But growing financial pressures across the public sector has made the need for the new project even more acute.

There was a 23 per cent rise in rough sleeping nationally in 2011, with the region showing a 30 per cent increase that year. However, there has been an average 15 per cent funding cut to services nationally, with the financial pressure even greater in Yorkshire. The region has endured 20 per cent funding cuts, according to Homeless Link.

The problems in York are being compounded by high housing prices preventing many getting on the property ladder. The average property price in York was £201,331 in 2011 compared to the regional average of £155,303, according to the National Housing Federation.

Homeless Link’s regional manager, Helen Loosemore, said: “We need to break down the stigma of being homeless, as it can affect anyone. It can be a relationship breakdown, the loss of your job – any number of reasons.

“We want everyone to play their part, and for the public to help by reporting any rough sleepers they see. If we can help people from an early stage or even before they have become homeless, then it means that they do not become entrenched in that way of life.”

The new initiative in York will give rough sleepers immediate help to ensure they do not spend a second night out on the streets. It will provide emergency accommodation and healthcare, as well as reconnecting rough sleepers from other parts of the country with local authorities from where they are originally from.

A former rough sleeper, Karl, 33, is living at the Arc Light Hostel in York after seeking help from the Salvation Army in November. He said: “I would urge anyone in the same situation to seek help and not to be stubborn. It really could save your life.”

A helpline has been launched by Homeless Link, which supports 500 organisations. The StreetLink helpline allows the public to report details of rough sleepers by calling 0300 500 0914 or logging on to www.streetlink.org.uk.

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