More working people living in tents, charity says

The Salvation Army said there had been an increase in the number of rough sleepers in the area

A charity that offers support to the homeless community says there has been a "huge increase" in demand, with more working people living in tents on the streets in north Devon.

The Salvation Army says homelessness is getting worse with more people resorting to sofa surfing or living in cars and tents.

Captain Mark Read, who runs the Salvation Army in North Devon, says more working people are now homeless because of a lack of accommodation in the area.

Mr Read said: "These are not the standard rough sleepers that we've experienced before."

Mark Read says one missed pay cheque or a broken relationship can be enough for working people to slip through the net "into a world of rough sleeping."

He said: "Sometimes these are working people that it's just been one missed pay cheque, one broken relationship and suddenly they've slipped through the net into a world of rough sleeping."

According to North Devon Council's strategy and resources committee 985 people who were homeless or facing homelessness had sought help from the council over the past year.

It said only Exeter was higher in the county with 1,135 approaches.

New figures from charity Shelter showed there were an estimated 244 homeless people in north Devon on 30 June 2024, compared to 187 on the same date in 2023.

The Salvation Army said there needs to be a more tailored response to people in crisis and more investment in infrastructure in the area.

Mr Read said the charity was "really encouraged" the local authority has recently taken some "creative and courageous moves" in investing in properties to bring them back in to use in the area.