Annual count of people sleeping rough in York published

The official, annual street count for York in 2022 showed that nine people were sleeping on the street on a typical night.

People sleeping rough in York are regularly and routinely offered accommodation suitable for their needs, together with personalised support to help them off the streets.

In 2017, the official number of people sleeping rough was 29, and while it dropped to four last year, it is now nine. Services continue to work intensively to reduce the numbers of people sleeping rough and get them in to safe, warm and suitable accommodation as quickly as possible.

The annual official count of people sleeping rough takes place nationally following a two month period when information from a range of partners is gathered and assessed. This includes numbers of people sleeping rough on one particular night.

York’s planned night count was found to coincide with King Charles’ visit to York. The extraordinary circumstances of this once a decade event included the possibility of people camping out to secure a good view and security requirements. As a result, York was advised by Homeless Link, the national street count verifying body, to delay the count.

On the night of the count, officers from the council, Changing Lives, the NHS, North Yorkshire Police, early intervention workers and other local organisations work together to identify who is sleeping outside. They consider who does and who doesn’t have accommodation, whether they are passing through the city or are based here, and where people are found sleeping. As with every street walk, those found were offered a safe bed and support.

Nine people were identified as sleeping rough, which was verified independently by Homeless Link based on the findings of the count and on the other information gathered.

Cllr Denise Craghill, Executive Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods, said: “We’re lobbying for more resources to counter this rise in rough sleeping across the country, as well as in York. We’ve secured some £1.3million of Government funding over the next three years which is welcomed. But in the current economic climate, with people losing their homes as the moratorium on evictions ends and as people suffer the effects of the soaring cost of living, more is needed to deliver the personalised approach, tailored support and appropriate levels of supported accommodation.

“Nine people sleeping rough regularly is far too many. We know this is a variable figure which fluctuates daily, and we continue to actively seek out people who might be sleeping rough and offer them a bed and support. Our resourceful and committed Street Navigators continue to find creative and personalised solutions to support people off the streets and into safer, more stable accommodation.”