> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Rough sleeper numbers in the West Midlands are on the rise, studies say
- URL: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/rough-sleepers-homeless-west-midlands-crisis-shelter-st-basils-barrie-hodge/
- Published: 2018-01-25T14:04:50.000Z
- Updated: 2018-01-25T14:04:50.000Z
- Author: Wan Ulfa
- Tags: Charity, Data, News, Politics, #Migrated-1786701253228, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-14 09:54

![](http://birminghameastside.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/homeless-2223116_12801.jpg)

The latest figures for rough sleepers across West Midlands and England as a whole, are up again.

More people are sleeping rough across the West Midlands, according to the latest government figures.

The numbers released on Thursday for last autumn record a **total of 295** in the region: two percent up on the previous year.

The figures followed the trend across the whole of **England**, which recorded a total of **4,751 rough sleepers**, a 15-percent increase.

But homelessness campaigners at the charity **Crisis**, say the real number is much higher.

[Their research](https://www.crisis.org.uk/media/237582/crisis%5Fhomelessness%5Fprojections%5F2017.pdf?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) suggests that there are as many as **8,000 rough sleepers across England**.

And the charity **Shelter** said welfare cuts were exacerbating the homelessness crisis.

Chief executive **Polly Neate** called on the government to "build a new generation of genuinely affordable homes to rent, as well as ensuring housing benefit is fit for purpose in the short-term.”

**Rough Sleeping: England**

**Rough sleeping: West Midlands**

The **West Midlands** as a whole may have shown a **decrease in rough sleepers,** but unfortunately, this statistic isn't applicable to Birmingham.

> [](https://twitter.com/andy4wm/status/956525787192098816?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk)

**Barrie Hodge**, head of fundraising at **St Basil's** homeless charity said:

*"Sadly there is a slight rise in rough sleeping in Birmingham. There is an increase of two people or 3% from 2016’s figure of 55\. The national average of rough sleepers per 1,000 households is 0.2%, Birmingham is 0.13% and the West Midlands is 0.12%. *One is one too many and we are saddened that the number has gone up.**

> [Rough sleeping in Birmingham](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byeXOgRyGAw&feature=youtu.be&ref=birminghameastside.co.uk)Uploaded by Sarah McGee on 2018-01-25.

*Music Credit: Music creditation.* [*Ben Sound 'Tomorrow'* ](https://www.bensound.com/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) *Photo Credit:* [*Rui Duarte.*](https://www.flickr.com/photos/rui-duarte/7177816216/in/photolist-bWhbG1-NNgJC-4obJSe-6AAwGt-ayh3WL-2qWFq-nqaTmR-86n67c-qyYVYW-3SN5-G3bBe-CpW6a-4rycrv-k9VH1-eeYPgu-psTCc-5z3Bpm-4KfZH-7P6YtV-Wg3dC-Xgjr6-Wcjg6-hww1gu-KfHnw-Jemgn-HYNGHo-7N9rTf-dW2Ghr-qttUeF-KjBEu-3hgHgV-7NWxTq-b8Q62-frT2r-wtBom-BuKcVA-qaS8n8-86CUDN-8ruKk-kGhhdc-WyAHhy-boUcdp-8yWCjZ-TJij8n-dR5jgq-yLs2vN-gPyVtR-8XvpwN-fAyuhM-xsuSu?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk)

[Birmingham City Council announced their 2018/19 budget this week](https://birmingham.cmis.uk.com/Birmingham/Document.ashx?czJKcaeAi5tUFL1DTL2UE4zNRBcoShgo=OMm6psP7Z6KIQJVlRpzw5vt85%2bmmskeazJKFTp8cdn92Q2%2flVb7Pfw%3d%3d&rUzwRPf%2bZ3zd4E7Ikn8Lyw%3d%3d=pwRE6AGJFLDNlh225F5QMaQWCtPHwdhUfCZ%2fLUQzgA2uL5jNRG4jdQ%3d%3d&mCTIbCubSFfXsDGW9IXnlg%3d%3d=hFflUdN3100%3d&kCx1AnS9%2fpWZQ40DXFvdEw%3d%3d=hFflUdN3100%3d&uJovDxwdjMPoYv%2bAJvYtyA%3d%3d=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&FgPlIEJYlotS%2bYGoBi5olA%3d%3d=NHdURQburHA%3d&d9Qjj0ag1Pd993jsyOJqFvmyB7X0CSQK=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&WGewmoAfeNR9xqBux0r1Q8Za60lavYmz=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&WGewmoAfeNQ16B2MHuCpMRKZMwaG1PaO=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&ref=birminghameastside.co.uk). They plan to cut funding to certain homeless services, including financial investment for the **Young Persons homeless hub;** they also plan to reduce the expenditure on the **substance misuse homeless service**.

When questioned about the council's decision to cut funding in these areas, **Barrie Hodge** said:

*"We understand that the council have difficult decisions to make and we enjoy a great working relationship with them. We will be working closer than ever as we move forward to make sure that the impact of any proposed cuts is minimal."* 

\---