Rough sleeping down by 49% in Milton Keynes

The latest government figures estimate that in the Autumn of 2020 there was on average 18 people sleeping rough in Milton Keynes.

Milton Keynes Council has offered every rough sleeper in the city a warm bed as part of their ‘Everyone In’ programme'.

The council has supported more than 200 rough sleepers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Other not-for-profit schemes like the MK Homeless Bus helped support rough sleepers throughout the pandemic.

The council is currently collaborating with homeless charities DePaul and the Milton Keynes Homeless Partnership in attempts to prevent young people becoming homeless.

Milton Keynes was previously dubbed the “capital of youth homelessness” and concerns about the housing situation have been raised in recent council meetings.

The cabinet member responsible for tackling homelessness, Councillor Hannah O’Neill said in a statement on the Milton Keynes Council website: " “We welcome these figures, but we must continue to do more to ensure that no one gets left behind.

"We’re determined to help our most vulnerable people and we’re urging government to continue providing support so we can end rough sleeping for good. My thanks go out to partners and the outreach team who are out every day encouraging people still on the street to take up our accommodation."