The number of people sleeping rough in England has fallen to the lowest ever level with a 75 per cent reduction since 1998, according to the latest statistics, writes Clare Jerrom.
Annual rough sleeping figures for 2005 shows there were 1,850 people sleeping on the streets in 1998 and this has been reduced to 459 this year.
Housing minister Yvette Cooper said: “Rough sleeping is at an all time low, and we have ended the scandal of families with children living for long periods in bed and breakfast hotels.”
“We are also seeing the number of people becoming homeless falling significantly, showing that prevention is making a real difference to more and more people,” she added.
However the minister warned that more still needed to be done,
especially in reducing the number of people living in temporary
accommodation.
