Wanting a place to call home is a natural desire and a basic human right. However, the number of people affected by homelessness each year in England and Wales is considerable and growing.

Based on official government statistics, in autumn 2017 the total number of people were sleeping rough in England was 4,751. This represents an increase of 169% since 2010 and a 33% increase since 2015. In Wales, 345 people were found to be sleeping rough in autumn 2017, which marks a 44% increase since 2015.

Last year, in total more than 5,000 people were estimated to have slept rough across England and Wales.

As well as those sleeping rough, many more people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness approach local authorities for support. Last year, 56,600 households in England and 2,229 in Wales approaching local authorities were found to be statutory homelessness.

In addition to this, 82,310 households in England and 2,142 households in Wales were deemed homeless as a result of living in temporary and insecure forms of housing such as bed and breakfast hotels and hostels.

In England this marks an increase of 63% since 2010 and an increase of 23% since 2015. While in Wales, the increase in households living in temporary accommodation has been 13% since 2015.