Thu Dec 01, 2016 10:30 pm
One in every 204 people in city is classed as homeless, according to shock report
Coventry was today branded as one of Britain’s homeless hotspots.
In the West Midlands alone, Coventry has come only behind Birmingham in the region, and has even made the top 50 places for homelessness in the entire country.
Shelter’s homelessness figures include the numbers of people living in hostels and other types of temporary accommodation, as well as those sleeping rough on England’s streets.
It said homelessness “hotspots” across England can be found in Brighton, Birmingham, Slough, Bristol, Coventry, Reading and Manchester, as well as in parts of London.
They found that 16,100 people are homeless in the West Midlands alone.
Coventry has an estimated 1686 homeless people living in temporary accommodation; one in every 204 people. The charity said there are also nine people sleeping rough on the streets each night.
The charity stitched together statistics from Government, social services and councils and used the Freedom Of Information Act to develop what it has called the most accurate picture yet of homelessness in the UK.
Shelter’s chief executive Campbell Robb said: “Shelter’s founding shone a light on hidden homelessness in the sixties slums. But while those troubled times have faded into memory, 50 years on, a modern-day housing crisis is tightening its grip on our country.
“We all face the consequences when so many in our country grow up without a place to call home. It breaks up communities and wreaks havoc on family life.
Fri Dec 02, 2016 11:02 am
Sat Dec 03, 2016 1:52 pm
Sun Dec 04, 2016 6:28 pm
Coventry's homeless have 'given up' trying to find somewhere to live
People are sleeping rough in Coventry because they’ve been evicted from homes so many times they can’t face trying again, according to the person running the Coventry Winter Night Shelter.
The night shelter opened to rough sleepers on Thursday, December 1 for the third winter running. The project is headed by former firefighter Nobby Clarke.
He told how among those needing help are people who sleep rough because they have been evicted from their homes several times. They can’t face it happening again so they have given up trying to find anywhere to live.
Mr Clarke said: “People are affected by the benefits squeeze.
“We find that people get somewhere of their own and they can’t get work.
“If they are having to live on benefits they are on a very tight budget and some people find that too difficult to be able to manage and they get behind with payments and they are evicted.
“When this has happened once, twice or even three times they decide it’s not worth bothering to find somewhere to live and they sleep rough.”
Sometimes people needing help are facing not just homelessness but relationship breakdown, alcohol problems, drug problems or mental ill health.
Mr Clarke said: “When it’s cold you can wrap up warm but the problem it’s cold, wet and windy and when it’s persistently cold.
“It has a cumulative effect and health starts to suffer.”
Rough sleepers who want to stay overnight at the Coventry Winter Night Shelter should visit the Salvation Army in Harnall Lane West or the Cyrenians in Oakwood House, Cheylesmore, Coventry.
There are already enough volunteers to run the service but anyone who would like to make a donation should email cwns.asst@gmail.com.
Sun Dec 04, 2016 6:56 pm
Tue Dec 06, 2016 12:17 pm
Tue Dec 06, 2016 1:03 pm
Tue Dec 06, 2016 8:39 pm
Tue Dec 06, 2016 8:55 pm
Tue Dec 06, 2016 9:05 pm
rebbonk wrote:I really think it scandalous the way we treat our forces veterans. This council in particular ought hang its head in shame.