Warning homelessness in Bristol will rise without ‘significant’ government investment

The housing crisis, coupled with rising costs of food and energy, could see more people being forced onto the streets as winter continues.

This is the warning from mayor Marvin Rees, who is calling on the government to invest more in local support services to prevent individuals from facing homelessness.

It comes as Bristol City Council has released the latest official figures, which state that the number of people sleeping rough in the city was recorded at 68 during the annual count in November, up from 50 the previous year.

The council says the number has fallen since late last year, with 26 people recorded as rough sleeping during in January. Additional work to provide support during the pandemic has been credited for the decrease but the Labour administration warns this is likely to rise again due to the pressure of rising bills and costs, coupled with the lack of affordable move-on accommodation.

There are currently more than 1,000 households placed in temporary accommodation in the city, a figure that is growing every week and which is unsustainable in the long term.

“We desperately need to reduce the number of people housed in emergency accommodation, but the short-term nature of the funding means we are not able to offer everyone long-term solutions,” says Tom Renhard, Bristol’s cabinet member for housing.

“We must also remember that homelessness is complex, and not everyone wants the support being offered at the time. We continue to work with people who are rough sleeping, reviewing their options and developing individual plans for leaving the streets.”

Funding has been made available from the government to provide people with a history of rough sleeping with additional support. This is being used to provide accommodation for around 50 people and to offer them “wrap around support” with access to health services and vaccinations.

On top of this, a Winter Pressures Grant has helped people, including non-UK nationals, with a place to stay and a plan to help leave the streets, including access to legal advice and help finding employment.

Renhard says that while this funding has been welcome, it fails to address the need for more social housing and affordable private rented housing.

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Rees has said the council is committed to making sure as many people as possible do not return to – or end up on – the streets, but really needs more long-term financial support.

“While I am pleased to see that our continued efforts to support people who are sleeping rough during the pandemic has reduced the numbers sleeping on the streets, there is still a constant flow of people ending up homeless, with many blockages to getting individuals back off the streets,” said the mayor.

“The main reason for this remains the national housing crisis, and the lack of affordable move-on accommodation available for people to progress from the emergency accommodation we provide.

“We know that with food and energy prices rising, coupled with high rents and reduced benefits, even more people will end up needing support in the coming months. There remains a lot of support and services available for people who are rough sleeping, or at risk of homelessness, and I would encourage people to take that first step to reach out and get help.”

He added that until the council is able to support asylum seekers and other people with no recourse to public funds, it will never be able to fully tackle the homelessness crisis.

Members of the public are encouraged to use the Streetlink app or 24/7 referral line on 01202 315962 to alert the council’s homelessness team, or to call emergency services if somebody is in urgent need.

Main photo: Bristol Design CB/ Bristol City Council

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