THE number of people who are sleeping rough in Redditch has fallen.
In 2017 there were four people sleeping rough, in 2018 it increased to seven and in 2019 it dropped to just two.
The latest ‘snapshot’ figures from the Office of National Statistics looked at a night in the town between October and November in 2018 and then again in 2019.
It found the town was at its lowest level for rough sleeping in four years.
Across England overall, the snapshot found rough sleeping fell by nine per cent last year – the second annual fall in a row.
Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “A 71 per cent fall in the number of rough sleepers in Redditch last year is a testament to the dedication and hard-work of those involved in the Rough Sleeping Initiative in our town and across Worcestershire.”
The two who were sleeping rough were reported to have declined the offer of accommodation.
The government recently announced local authorities would receive a share of a £112million grant through the Rough Sleeping Initiative to help get people off the streets and into safe and secure accommodation.
Worcestershire will receive a share of £672,308 from this fund in 2020.
A further £236million of government cash has been earmarked for ‘move on’ accommodation for up to 6,000 rough sleepers.
Mrs Maclean added: “It is our moral duty to end rough sleeping once and for all, and clearly here in Redditch we’re heading in the right direction, but we won’t stop until rough sleeping is ended.”
