January 5, 2018 12.52 pm This story is over 74 months old

Homelessness in Lincoln more than doubles in seven years, figures show

The number of applications for help with homelessness more than doubled in Lincoln since 2010, new figures have shown. A county-wide review painted a grave picture of rising levels of rough sleeping in every local authority area, with recorded figures expected to be just a snapshot of true numbers on the streets. The compulsory review…
What's the solution to rising number of homeless people in Lincoln?

The number of applications for help with homelessness more than doubled in Lincoln since 2010, new figures have shown.

A county-wide review painted a grave picture of rising levels of rough sleeping in every local authority area, with recorded figures expected to be just a snapshot of true numbers on the streets.

The compulsory review has been carried out by the Lincolnshire County Homeless Strategy Group, made up of local councils, to produce the third countywide strategy on the issue.

Figures are based on the number of people formally seeking assistance of local authorities under homelessness legislation.

In Lincoln, the number of people applying for help more than doubled, a 155% rise between the year 2010/11 and 2016/17.

The highest number of homelessness applications in Lincoln was recorded in the year 2014/15 (347).

A 59.5% rise was recorded across all Lincolnshire authorities in total, and the highest homelessness figure was recorded in South Kesteven District Council.

Figures are expected to be higher still, since data did not include rough sleepers not seeking assistance from a local council.

Report author Alison Timmins, Housing Solutions and Support Manager, wrote: “In line with the national picture, homelessness in Lincolnshire is increasing.

“It is predicted that increased unemployment combined with higher levels of personal debt, will lead to many more people in our area becoming at risk of losing their home.

“Compounded by welfare reform and policy change, limited supply of social housing and limited development of affordable housing, there has never been more need to work as a partnership in Lincolnshire.”

Towards the end of 2017, housing charity Shelter suggested that at least 80 people were sleeping rough on the streets of Lincoln.

New figures revealing sharp increase in Lincoln homelessness ‘just a snapshot’, warns charity