Chichester's latest homelessness figures revealed

The figures show how, last month, rough sleeping has been on the rise in the city but is 'not the highest as seen in the peak of the summer'.

Fourteen people were fed by Chichester charity The Four Streets Project at the beginning of the month and 26 at the end. This number fluctuates throughout the month but still shows an incline.

Cumulative numbers from March 2019 to the end of January this year, placed the first month of the year fourth out of eleven months with August being the highest (666 rough sleepers fed).

In January, 498 people were fed.

Donna Ockenden, founder of the Four Street's Project said: "Whilst the figure for January is not the highest as seen in the peak of the summer, the number of homeless/hungry people on the streets of Chichester is a continuing concern, particularly with the cold temperatures and torrential rain we are currently seeing.

"We continue to be grateful to the residents, churches and businesses of Chichester for their ongoing and generous support of The Four Streets Project.

"We would especially like to pay tribute to Chichester City Council for their generous donation of a grant of £2000 which has enabled us to issue our homeless population with ‘winter kits’ including waterproof and winter thickness sleeping bags, thermal socks, hats and gloves, etc."

The Four Streets Project is run by volunteers who take to North, South, East and West Street seven days a week, 365 days a year to offer food and support to some of the most vulnerable in our community.

To find out more, visit their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/fourstreetsproject