Rough sleepers making tower block residents feel like 'prisoners'

The number of rough sleepers in Leeds fell during the Covid pandemic, but is rising again, the Local Democracy reporting Service said

Residents living in some West Yorkshire tower blocks feel like "prisoners" because of rough sleepers in communal areas, a meeting has heard.

Councillor Asghar Khan said the issue had left some council tenants feeling "unsafe" in the Burmantofts and Richmond Hill area of Leeds.

Mr Khan, who represents the ward, said rough sleepers caused "a lot of mess".

Leeds City Council said it had widened its services to try to tackle the problem.

Speaking at a scrutiny meeting Councillor Khan, said: "In the ward I represent we've seen an increase in rough sleeping in those multi-storey blocks.

"They're causing a lot of nuisance and mess for other services, which are already strained.

"If a rough sleeper doesn't want our services, what avenues do we have and where can they get help from other partners."

Councillor Asghar Khan told a meeting some council tenants felt "unsafe" in the Burmantofts flats

Council officer Kerrie Murray told Mr Khan the local authority had increased its support services, because it knew there were "issues with rough sleepers, particularly around evenings and weekends", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

She added: "The issue you mentioned around multi-storeys, that has been flagged up. Our outreach offer has been extended to support rough sleepers who are found during the evening and weekends."

Ms Murray also said the council was "quite successful" in getting rough sleepers into accommodation.

She said there was "wrap around support" for rough sleepers.

"Often it may be the help they need with their health, drug and alcohol addictions is the first thing that's tackled, and then we'll put them into accommodation." she added.

The number of people sleeping rough in England rose by more than a quarter last year, official statistics suggest.

On a single night in autumn, 3,069 people slept outside, 26% more than in 2021, the Department of Levelling Up, Communities and Housing, previously said.