Hastings rough sleeping rate drops by more than 50 per cent

Figures released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government today (Thursday, February 27) show the number of people sleeping on the streets of the town dropped from 48, in 2018, to 21 in 2019.

The decrease of 27 rough sleepers is a reduction of 56 per cent.

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Hastings had the seventh-highest decrease of rough sleepers last year, the statistics show.

In response to the drop in figures for Hastings, councillor Andy Batsford, lead councillor for housing said: “Against the background of short term funding for rough sleeping from central government, the disaster of universal credits for the vulnerable and cuts to mental health and welfare services, the officers at Hastings borough Council and our voluntary partners have done an incredible job in supporting and addressing the biggest homelessness crisis we have seen in generations.

“The innovation, flexibility and the deep knowledge they have shown around this hugely complex issue is the reason that with limited resources they have been able to make great progress in helping those residents get off the streets; find them accommodation and importantly, the ongoing support to that person which is so important.

“It’s a great effort from our officers but they could not do it alone. I want to thank the volunteers at Snowflake who provide the winter shelters around the town and Surviving the Streets who have filled the gap at weekends for those more chaotic rough sleepers. They both do an amazing job and working so closely with HBC officers has proven to be the key for the success we have seen.

“I am confident we will see further improvements to the figures and to the lives of those who have fallen on hard times.”

The latest figures come a week after Hastings Borough Council defended its strategy to reduce the rate of rough sleeping in the town following criticism from MP Sally-Ann Hart.

After the Hastings and Rye MP said she was ‘appalled at the lack of action and determination from the leadership of the Labour Council to deal with’ the problem of homelessness in the town, the council said it was making progress and called itself a ‘leader in this field’.

It said the number of people sleeping rough had been halved and another seven housing placements were planned for this week. This further reduction appears to have been included in the government’s latest statistics.

A council spokesman said: “This progress has been made possible by the council investing its own money into services for rough sleepers, including twice-weekly outreach sessions and a specialist housing options officer.”

The council claimed it had been successful in bidding for Rough Sleeping Initiative and Rapid Rehousing Pathway for the last two years because it was ‘a leader in this field’.

The spokesman added: “This funding is achieved on behalf of all the district and borough councils in East Sussex and the county council and brings in a further £1,500,000 for services in East Sussex in 2020/21.

“Getting people off the streets is only the first part of the story. Hastings has the highest number of Housing First placements for former rough sleepers in East Sussex. This approach is recognised as national best practice in providing ongoing support for people with multiple and complex needs. We have also been working to incentivise landlords to provide private rented accommodation for former rough sleepers.”

In Hastings, between January 2019 and January 2020, 79 rough sleepers were accommodated, according to the council, and a further 19 cases at imminent risk of rough sleeping were successfully prevented.

In response to the council’s statement, Sally-Ann Hart added: “It is welcome news that after years of increased numbers of rough sleepers and homelessness in Hastings, we are now seeing a decline in these figures. This is in large part down the focus and attention that central Government has given to areas like Hastings that have particularly suffered with this issue. Most recently the Government has announced nearly a £1million more for Hastings Borough Council to tackle homelessness. This is incredibly welcome news.

“However, we must urge caution with these latest figures. The important part with tackling homelessness is ensuring we provide the security and support that these individuals desperately need. It is no good them ending up in insecure, temporary accommodation with no support just so they are no longer on the streets of Hastings. We must help them with skills, training, employment and long-term housing solutions. Moreover, we must tackle the root causes of homelessness and rough sleeping so that fewer people end up spending nights on the streets of our town.”