Figures show the number of households assessed as rough sleeping across England have soared by 39.4% in the past year, up from 8,310 to 11,580.
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who this week held a House of Commons debate on rough sleeping, has called on the government to take action to live up to their manifesto commitment of ending rough sleeping across the country stating that we are “in dire need of action”.
The Lib Dem MP also called out the “heartless” cut to Universal Credit saying that it would “plunge even more people into poverty.”
The figures show a huge rise in rough sleeping across the nation’s capital London, with a 66% increase in rough sleeping bringing the total to a staggering 11,580.
Commenting on the stats, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said: “With rough sleeping figures tragically spiralling one thing is clear; we are in dire need of action from this Government who made a manifesto promise to end rough sleeping.
“Yet, despite making this promise, they are working against this goal. They have failed to scrap the Vagrancy Act, which criminalises rough sleepers, and their heartless cut to the Universal Credit uplift will plunge even more people into poverty.
“The Conservatives need to get serious about eliminating rough sleeping or risk breaking yet another promise to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
“The Liberal Democrats understand that we need to treat rough sleepers like people, giving them the support they want and need on an individual basis. That starts by scrapping the Vagrancy Act, rolling out Housing First across England, and the Government committing to long-term funding for councils to give them the certainty they need.”