HOMELESSNESS charity Crisis is pressing for a change in the law to ensure that local councils help anyone facing homelessness after figure revealed a 17 per cent rise in rough sleepers in the region.
The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) revealed that 242 people were recorded by councils in the East of England as sleeping rough on any one night, up from 206 in last year’s count.
Leslie Morphy, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: “The Government must learn from these figures and ensure that the services and help homeless people need are available in every area.
“It is shocking that in the 21st century there is still no right to shelter – a single homeless person can approach their council for help and be turned away to sleep on the streets.
“Our No One Turned Away campaign is pressing for a change in the law so that every homeless person who approaches their local council for help gets the advice and support they need and no-one is forced to sleep rough.
“In the face of these shocking figures it is all the more important that government acts now.”
“This rise in the number of people facing the horrors of rough sleeping is truly worrying and must be a wake-up call. Our very real fear is this is just the tip of the iceberg and the worst is yet to come.