Sign up to the Hull Live newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The number of rough sleepers in Hull has quadrupled in just seven years, according to new figures.

More people are now living on the streets since records began, with 28 men and women now occupying Hull’s doorways – the second largest population of rough sleepers in the Yorkshire and Humber area.

The number has risen 87 per cent since 2016 - a situation described as a “catastrophe" by a national homelessness charity.

(Image: Katie Pugh)

That is despite beds being available to rough sleepers in the city's hostels.

Just last month, a Hull-based charity berated homeless people for taking the "lucrative" option to stay on the streets and beg, despite beds being accesible.

Sandy Smith of Hull HARP said the homeless problem in the city was "worse than ever" and fuelled by the public who "allow it to happen".

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, the number of people rough sleeping has increased by 20 per cent, with 207 people recorded.

But charity Crisis is warning the true number of rough sleepers is likely to be far greater.

Crisis’ research found more than 8,000 people are sleeping on the street in England - on top of an additional 9,000 people sleeping in tents, cars, trains and buses.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

The charity's chief executive Jon Sparkes said he was appalled by the findings, especially since rough sleeping leaves people more vulnerable to violence and abuse.

“It is truly a catastrophe that in a country as prosperous as this, more and more people are finding themselves forced to sleep in dangerous and freezing conditions, when we have evidence to show how the situation could be turned around," he said.

"The report makes it only too clear that unless we take action as a society, the problem is only going to keep getting worse with every year that passes.

“Rough sleeping ruins lives, leaving people vulnerable to violence and abuse, and taking a dreadful toll on mental and physical health.

"Our research has shown how rough sleepers are 17 times more likely to be victims of violence. This is no way for anyone to live."

In 2010, just seven people were thought to be sleeping rough on the streets of Hull, meaning there has been an incredible 300 per cent increase since then.

York now has the most in the region, with 29 reported cases when the survey took place in August.

The Hull Daily Mail has recently launched a free app which features all the latest news, sport and what’s on information. You can download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store, or get the Android version from Google Play.