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'Pernicious' benefits policy blamed for rise in rough sleepers

Government accused of failing rough sleepers Credit: PA

A major report into rough sleeping, commissioned by the Mayor of Liverpool is calling for a change in legislation that prevents people from claiming support.

The policy of "No Recourse to Public Funds" has been blamed for the growth of rough sleeping in the past decade. Currently those with 'no address' aren't able to claim benefits.

The three month study found:

71% of Rough Sleepers during 2016/17 had experienced mental health issues.

One third of Rough Sleepers in Liverpool are economic migrants from Eastern Europe.

Around 6,000 people are helped every year to prevent them becoming homeless in Liverpool - of those, a very small number of people end up Rough Sleeping.

Rough Sleepers - core cities 2016: Birmingham (55), Bristol (74), Leeds (20), Liverpool (21), Manchester (78), Newcastle (5), Nottingham (35), Sheffield (15)

The number of rough sleepers has risen sharply in past decade. Credit: PA

Mayor Joe Anderson, who will use the launch of the report to call for a city wide action plan, said:

"This report is the most comprehensive analysis undertaken of rough sleeping in any UK city and shows that rough sleeping is on the rise across the country. The reason for that lies firmly at the door of the Government's attitude to benefits and specifically the No Recourse for Public Funds.

"It is not simply the case that more money will reduce this problem - this is going to require a new approach in how government at central and local level engage and act with our strategic partners and at grassroots level to address the very complex health needs of these unfortunate individuals."