Number of homeless people falls by a third in a year

The number of rough sleepers in Peterborough has fallen by a third in the space of a year, new figures have revealed.

The results of an annual Government rough sleeper count, released this week, showedthatin2021therewere 36 rough sleepers in the city. That number fell to 24 in 2022.

The 2022 figure is the lowest number of rough sleepers in Peterborough (not including 2020, when rough sleepers were housed in hotels due to the pandemic) since 2016.

A council spokesperson said they had been able to reduce the number of rough sleepers thanks to nearly £3m of Rough Sleeper Initiative Funding.

A Safer Off the Streets spokesperson said: “Our whole city is pulling together to reduce rough sleeping and makeitathingofthepastinPeterborough.

“However, our work has by no means finished and won’t beuntilwereachapointwhere no one feels they have to sleep rough in Peterborough.

"Sadly, the life expectancy of those sleeping rough is just 47, that’s why it’s our aim to get people off the streets for good anddirectthemtowards,help, supportandaccommodation.”

Steven Pettican, CEO, of Light Project Peterborough, which helps homeless people in the city, said: “‘It is really great to see the number of people sleeping on the streets reduced from last year.

"One person in our city without access to a safe and warm home is one too many and we will continue to invest in helping and keeping this need at the front of people’s minds. A big thank you all members of the public who continue to support this important work.”