Rough Sleepers Increasing on Lincoln Streets Amid Housing Crisis
Lincoln sees a rise in rough sleepers as the housing crisis worsens, prompting council action to address homelessness.
Lincoln, UK, Homelessness, Housing Crisis, Council
Lincoln: The number of folks sleeping rough in Lincoln is climbing, and it’s a real concern. A recent council report showed that 21 people were found on the streets during the last count in November. Evictions are the main reason behind this rise.
It’s tough out there, especially since Lincoln has the second-highest number of rough sleepers in Lincolnshire. South Holland tops the list with 24, while Boston and East Lindsey each have 17.
The City of Lincoln Council is stepping up, looking to try out a new overnight service for those without a place to stay. They’re also working hard to prevent more people from becoming homeless, including those who are sofa surfing or stuck in temporary housing.
Between October and December, 328 people at risk of homelessness reached out to the council. That’s more than double compared to the same period last year. Unfortunately, the council could only help about 36% of them avoid homelessness, mainly due to the lack of available housing.
The upcoming council meeting will discuss a report that highlights a “housing crisis both locally and nationally.” It’s clear that homelessness is on the rise, and the costs of temporary housing are a big challenge for councils everywhere.
The report notes that the main reason for rough sleeping in Lincoln is eviction, with a few cases linked to people being discharged from prison or hospitals.
To tackle this, they’re considering a trial for an overnight “sit-up service” at Pathways, a local homeless service. This would help keep the most vulnerable safe and warm when they have nowhere else to go. The funding for this will come from the government’s winter pressures support.