New figures show more people are now sleeping rough

By Ben Mundy
Newsbeat reporter

Homelessness in England has risen by almost a quarter, according to the charity Crisis.

They say unemployment, the housing market and welfare cuts are to blame.

The report is part of a five-year study by two universities into how the UK economic downturn is affecting homelessness.

The government claims the report is misleading and say they are spending hundreds of millions of pounds dealing with the problem.

James Perowne, 20, left home four years ago

"When you're sleeping on the street, people judge you and shout 'you're on this you're on that'," says James Perowne.

The 20-year-old ran away from his foster parents at the age of 16.

"I had a hard upbringing and was adopted by my foster parents.

"I used to argue with them all the time and I wouldn't stay with them now."

James slept under some stairs in Canterbury for more than a month

This report shows there was a 23% rise in rough sleepers between 2010 and 2011.

Using figures from a single night this autumn it suggests 2,181 people were sleeping on the streets last year. That is an increase of 413 people from the year before.

It also highlights an increase in what the charity calls the hidden homeless. People sleeping in places like bed and breakfasts or at friends houses.

"A couple of times I've had mates say to me I can stay round theirs and they help me with a shower, clothes and food," says James.

"The government say they're doing things just so they don't get the media around them, they need to do more."

'Tackling homelessness'

In response to this report, the Housing Minister Mark Prisk said: "This country has one of the strongest homelessness safety nets in the world, and it is misleading to suggest otherwise.

"We're reversing the dramatic loss of affordable housing under the previous administration by building 170,000 new affordable homes by 2015."

Danielle Jasper, 20 and Beth Clarke, 19, both live in Canterbury

Crisis say while homelessness is rising in all forms in England, it has dropped in areas of Scotland. Reports for Wales and Northern Ireland have yet to be released.

"They get themselves into it so they can get out of it," says student Beth Clarke.

"How many opportunities can you give one person before people give up on them?"

Danielle Jasper, 20, agrees: "Everyone has to start somewhere and you can't just give up and give in.

"Thankfully I have my mum and a job but if I lost that I could see how people end up homeless," she says.

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