Number of rough sleepers in Chesterfield has fallen

The number of rough sleepers in Chesterfield has dropped from 18 to 13. Photo: Victoria Jones

Data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reveals 13 people was estimated to be sleeping on the streets in Chesterfield during a spot check on one night last autumn.

That's down from 18 recorded in 2018.

The latest snapshot comes after the Prime Minister announced £236 million in additional funding to provide ‘move on’ accommodation for up to 6,000 rough sleepers.

Polly Neate, chief executive of the charity Shelter, said: “The Prime Minister rightly wants to end rough sleeping but unless his Government tackles the drought of genuinely affordable homes, homelessness isn’t going anywhere.”

In Chesterfield, 11 of the rough sleepers recorded last autumn were male and two were female.

Of those who had their age recorded, all were 26 or over.

Coun Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield Council leader, said: “We are pleased to see a fall in the number of rough sleepers in Chesterfield, but the hard work must continue as we want to reduce these numbers even further.

“Our dedicated support team along with our local partners, including those in the voluntary sector like Pathways and the Derbyshire Law Centre, have been taking extra steps to provide advice and assistance for people who are homeless.

“The majority of our homelessness prevention and support schemes are jointly funded and commissioned with other local councils.

“We find that by jointly funding these schemes, we can achieve better value for money and maximise the outcomes to benefit our residents and local people.

“If you see or are aware of anybody that is sleeping rough, please notify Streetlink on 0330 5000914.

“This will activate a rough sleeper outreach service who will attempt to make contact with the person sleeping rough and try to support them with the services we provide.

“In response to the Government’s release of the national Rough Sleeper Strategy the council is also in the process of developing its own local strategy and action plan.

“Further details on the strategy will be available in due course.”