Sharp rise in homelessness

A sharp increase in people facing homelessness in Horsham is being blamed on the coronavirus pandemic.

Horsham District Council says it had 800 homeless enquiries in the first six months of 2020, and there has been a 216 per cent increase in people sleeping rough in the district during the pandemic - many sleeping rough for the first time.

The head of the council’s housing and community services says: “This has been one of the toughest times I have known after 16 years working in housing services, due to sheer volume of households being affected.”

The council puts the rise in homelessness down to relationships breaking down under lockdown, friendly sofa surfing arrangemeents coming to an abrupt end and domestic abuse intensifying during the Covid crisis.

A council spokeswoman said: “The council’s homelessness prevention and relief teams continue to work hard with those who are homeless or facing homelessness by offering advice after fully assessing their circumstances and putting plans in place with those who need them.

“The teams are also supporting the increased numbers of those who are at risk of, or who are rough sleeping as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic which has caused an increase in demand by working alongside our outreach service run by homelessness charity Turning Tides.

“This has ensured everyone has access to the support they need and provided realistic housing solutions.”