December 18, 2019 10.10 am This story is over 51 months old

Lincoln fourth highest for rough sleepers in region

The number of homeless people in the region has risen by 50% since 2016
| Photo: The Lincolnite

Lincoln has the fourth-highest number of rough sleepers in the East Midlands, according to a new report by Shelter.

The charity claims that 26 people are currently sleeping rough in the city, which means that Lincoln is only behind Nottingham, Corby, and Leicester.

Shelter also reported that there are 93 people who are homeless in Lincoln, including the 67 recorded as homeless by the City of Lincoln Council.

Overall, the number of homeless people in the East Midlands has risen sharply by 50% since Shelter’s original report in 2016.

What to do if you see someone sleeping rough in Lincoln this winter.

Shelter is warning that unless the new government takes urgent action to address the dire lack of social homes at the crux of this emergency, the situation is likely to get worse.

An all too common sight in Lincoln. Photo: The Lincolnite

It comes at a time when the temperatures plummet, but local charities have set up a warm rail in Lincoln to help the homeless through winter.

The warm rail takes donations of coats, jumpers, scarves, hats, gloves and sleeping bags but it has moved to St Mary’s Guildhall on the corner of Sibthorpe Street and the High Street.

It will be open for donations from 9.30am to 1.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays over the next few months.

Compassionate Lincoln, behind the project, is working on expanding the times available and has urged people to give what they can.

Last year, the original wooden warm rail was burnt down in a deliberate attack but the culprit was never caught.