'Tide is turning' on number of people sleeping rough in city

MILLIONS BEING SPENT IN COUNCIL STRATEGY TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM

- By JOE LOCKER Local democracy reporter

The previous homeless encampment at the junction of Lister Gate, Castle Gate and Albert Street was cleaned up in mid-November

A SENIOR city councillor says homelessness “will get better” despite a worsening situation, including in Lister Gate where encampments continue to be set up in empty shop fronts.

According to Nottingham City Council’s homelessness strategy, 739 different people were found sleeping rough in the city last year, while the annual street count shows at least 50 people have been found sleeping rough on average each night.

Under the strategy, the Labour-led authority aims to reduce the number of rough sleepers identified in monthly counts to single figures by 2028.

However, residents, workers, and visitors may have seen dozens of people living in encampments in shop fronts across the city, particularly in Lister Gate.