The Basingstoke and Deane Social Inclusion Partnership has pledged to continue working towards ending rough sleeping in the borough. 

Each year the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities asks every local authority to record the number of people sleeping rough in their area in November.

In Basingstoke and Deane, the number of people sleeping on the streets has fallen from 26 in 2016 and was at four on the night of the count in November 2023.

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The 2023 figure was submitted by members of the partnership, which is a coalition of statutory services, commissioned housing providers, voluntary and faith-based groups and those with lived experience of rough sleeping.

Cabinet member for residents’ services and housing, Cllr Laura James, said: “The 2023 figure reflects the ongoing challenges that we face, both locally and nationally with a cost-of-living and housing crisis and the impact these factors have on mental health and wellbeing.

"We must continue to drive forward with partners to continue our ground-breaking work.

“So much progress has been made since 2016 when there were 26 people recorded as rough sleeping across the borough. The latest figure shows how the partnership continues to come together to deliver an individual-led approach, working with people based on their specific needs to start a new life away from the streets.

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“But this is just a snapshot in time and as part of our daily monitoring, we have already seen the number of people rough sleeping in the borough fall below the figure recorded in November.

"This is because the number of people who may be rough sleeping can change all the time as there are so many factors that may lead to someone becoming homeless.

“Nobody should have to sleep rough in our borough and as a partnership we will continue to work tirelessly together to build on the fantastic achievements to date and end rough sleeping in Basingstoke and Deane.

"We will also continue to call on the Government to give us the support we need to help the most vulnerable in our borough.”

Residents and visitors who spot someone sleeping rough in the borough are asked to report this to ensure the individual gets the help and support they need at thestreetlink.org.uk.

More information on the work the Basingstoke and Deane Social Inclusion Partnership do to tackle homelessness in the borough can be found at realchangebasingstoke.org.uk, or by following realchangebas on Facebook or Twitter.

Support and advice to help residents deal with the impact of the rising cost-of-living is also available at basingstoke.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support.