While rough sleeping continues to rise, winter night shelter brings help and hope
Recently released government statistics sadly confirm what we all already knew which is that the number of people sleeping rough in the UK has risen again.
Last November, WHC led the annual census of people sleeping rough in Buckinghamshire. We counted 22 people sleeping rough locally which is the highest number since before the COVID-19 pandemic and almost a 40% increase from the end of 2023.
In the last few years, we have seen an unprecedented rise in average rents with Wycombe being particularly badly hit. In 2023, High Wycombe saw a 22.4% rise in average rents, the highest proportional rise anywhere in the country.
Benefits and average earnings have not risen as fast and with a severe shortage of housing this leaves some people priced out of being able to afford their own home.
It also comes as no surprise that there has been a rise in people reporting poor mental health which is a known factor putting people at higher risk of homelessness. The number of patients making contact with mental health services has risen by 36% since 2019.
But there is good news!
Volunteer-led projects like our winter night shelter create a place of hope and help. People who stay in a shelter have a great chance of not having to return to the street after their stay, and evidence is showing that a time of settlement in a shelter helps more people to find a home than many other types of support work.
I am delighted to share that of the 28 guests we have hosted so far, 13 have moved in to a new place to stay, meaning they won’t have to return to the street.
The team are continuing to work so our current and future guests find a solution to their homelessness, and our homelessness prevention work continues apace.
We know that it is 10 times more expensive to help someone escape from homelessness than it is to prevent them being forced into homelessness in the first place.
And for each statistic, we know that it’s not just a number. It’s a person. Someone who has experienced one or more devastating things such as a relationship breakdown, a job loss or a period of ill health that has led to them losing their home.
Our grateful thanks go to the people and organisations form across our community who have come together to make the night shelter happen. With just a few weeks left to run we are about to provide additional training to our volunteers to enable them to keep providing hope and help all year round at our drop-in sessions and more. Together, we will see an end to homelessness in our community.
Shelter celebration
You are welcome to join us for an informal gathering to thank all our volunteers. It will be a special time to reflect on the shelter.
Saturday 12 April, 12 noon – 3pm
The HUB, Union Baptist Church, Easton Street, High Wycombe, HP11 1N
Includes a simple jacket potato and fillings lunch so please let us know if you are able to attend: