HOMELESS bed spaces in Warwick district have been cut by 25 per cent – and more are expected to go.
Following a loss in government funding, Warwickshire County Council has been forced to reduce the number of beds in the district from 132 to just 100 since July 2016.
Currently in the area there are 21 rough sleepers with nearly 150 homeless who are waiting to be homed and often have to use hostel services.
Warwickshire County Council says despite the cut in bed spaces it is working to help the county’s homeless in other ways. It is pumping £300,000 to help those without a home and suffering from mental health, drug and alcohol problems.
But county councillor Jonathan Chilvers says more needs to be done and that the beds need to remain.
He told the Observer: “I’m pleased the council is trying to address some key underlying reasons for rough sleeping, particularly addiction and mental health.
“However homeless bedspaces in the Warwick area have been cut since July 2016. And there are further cuts scheduled for 2019 due to central government slashing funding. So it’s no surprise that rough sleeping has risen significantly.
“There’s no way around the need for the right supported accommodation so people can put their lives back together.”
Warwickshire County Council says it will be working with the police and charities to offer support to the homeless.
