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More homeless people in city
Coun Harry Harpham
THE number of people declared homeless in Sheffield has risen 38 per cent in a year.
Sheffield Council said 273 people were accepted as homeless in the first three months of 2011, compared with 198 in the same period during 2010.
The figures, branded ‘very alarming’ by council bosses, include households accepted by the local authority as being homeless and in priority need.
But they do not include rough sleepers, people living in B&B accommodation, people residing in refuges and night shelters, those in short term arrangements with friends and family, or squatters.
The figures have been released as the council prepares to mark World Homelessness Day.
Sheffield Council said it is taking action to help reduce the number of homeless people by helping increase the amount of housing available.
The latest initiative is persuading private landlords to take on more social housing tenants.
Sheffield Council cabinet member for housing Coun Harry Harpham said the rise was alarming.
He said: “It’s vital that we as a council do all that we can to protect people who are homeless.
“I personally am 100 per cent committed to working with our partners and other organisations in the city to help prevent and tackle homelessness in Sheffield.
“We are very concerned about the potential impact that Government cuts will have on the services that are available to support people facing homelessness,
“I hope that the Government will recognise how serious this situation is and take action to mitigate the impact.
“The figures showing a 38 per cent increase in homelessness in Sheffield in the past year are very alarming, that is why it is vital we work with schemes such as the Cathedral Archer Project which provide important services giving homeless people somewhere to go when they have nowhere else.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
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sensei
Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 09:56 PMAn example being the drunken "homeless" moron in Endcliffe parl who was waving knives about. His pathetic excuse was that he had drunk 3 litres of strong cider and 4 tins of lager. That's why he's homeless, he spends all his benefit money on booze.
sensei
Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 09:51 PM"Rough sleepers" might get more sympathy if they didn't always have a fag in their mouth and a tin of Special Brew in each hand.
Woodseats Sammy
Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 06:39 PMinteresting how city of sanctuary 'newcomers' get homes, taking over swathes of gleadless valley, tinsley and wincobank.
Spedan
Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 04:10 PMHow can the number of homeless people NOT include rough sleepers? Do they think rough sleepers have a home but choose not to go there?
freedom
Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 03:05 PMSheffield, city on the move (due to lack of secure tenure). Moving from shop doorways to hostel to friends settees and back again. In this tribal city of Labour, let's have one big cheer for Pathfinder demolition, whereby the government demolished its' citizens homes! Hurrah! Cheer on the insanity like a madman because accepting the truth is too hard to bare! If you do, find solace in drink, it numbs the pain.
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