Number of rough sleepers up by 134% as Tories accused of ‘light touch’ approach to tackling homelessness

‘The number of rough sleepers in the UK has soared by 134 per cent since the Tories took power, new figures show, prompting accusations from the Government spending watchdog that ministers have failed to tackle the problem.
A damning report by the National Audit Office (NAO) revealed that there had been a 60 per cent rise in households in temporary accommodation over the last six years, affecting 120,540 children – 73 per cent more youngsters than were made homeless in March 2011.
An autumn snapshot survey last year recorded 4,134 rough sleepers – marking an increase of 134 per cent since the Tory-led coalition took power in 2010 – while the number of homeless families approaching councils and being assessed as entitled to temporary accommodation rose by 48 per cent to 59,090.
Despite the worsening crisis – branded a “national scandal” by opposition MPs – the Government has continued with a “light touch” approach that cannot be considered value for money, according to the report.’
Read more: Number of rough sleepers up by 134% as Tories accused of ‘light touch’ approach to tackling homelessness