The latest published Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities statistics have shown that shown that 21 people were estimated to be sleeping rough in Blackpool based on a snapshot of a single night in Autumn last year. This has risen from seven the year before, and is the highest figure since comparable records began in 2010.

Blackpool ranks second on the table of rough sleepers in Lancashire, with Preston topping the able with 27 people are rough sleeping in the town, more than double the 13 people recorded the previous year. Preston’s figures were the highest out of all 14 boroughs within the Lancashire County Council area.

Nationally, the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough rose by 27% last year to 3,898.

This was up 10% on the last year, and the highest figure on record.

Rough sleeping is defined as people sleeping, or about to bed down, in tents, doorways, parks, bus shelters or other temporary dwellings. Figures include people sleeping in buildings or other places not designed for living in, such as stair wells, car parks, stations or makeshift shelters.

Additionally, the Government statistics show 109,000 households in England were living in temporary accommodation as of September.

On publishing the data on 29th February, 2024, the Government says, ‘The new data framework will be relevant to people working locally to end rough sleeping, and is an important step towards driving better outcomes and realising the cross-government goal to end rough sleeping.’

For the full picture go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rough-sleeping-snapshot-in-england-autumn-2023/rough-sleeping-snapshot-in-england-autumn-2023