Government figures show the number of people sleeping rough in England has increased by a third since 2010. In London alone, 6,437 people slept rough during 2012-13, a 62% rise in two years.
Campaigners say there is a risk this trend could continue, given youth unemployment, the economic downturn and the pressures on low income families, combined with changes within welfare reform, reduction of public services and the general squeezing of housing supply and affordability of accommodation. The official figures do not account for the hidden homeless.
Read more
