Stratford-on-Avon District Council is required by central government to carry out an annual rough sleeper count on a specific night during October/November. The most recent count took place on the night/early morning of 11th and 12h November 2025, in conjunction with partner agencies via an early morning street count, followed up by an intelligence gathering meeting.
The Council and its partners have been working hard to reduce rough sleeping, but the number reporting sleeping outside increased during 2024 and 2025, in line with national trends. All regions of England have seen an increase in rough sleeping since 2022. This year's count concluded there were 14 rough sleepers outside on the selected night. From a height of 17 in 2017, this compares with 10 in 2018, 6 in 2019, 4 in 2020, 3 in 2021, 4 in 2022, 2 in 2023 and 10 in 2024.
Rough sleeping is a complex issue and there is no single, straightforward solution. Structural factors such as poverty, inequality, limited housing supply, unaffordable rents and barriers to employment and benefits all contribute. In addition, individual experiences, including poor mental or physical health, substance misuse, trauma and adverse childhood experiences, can increase a person's vulnerability to sleeping rough. The District Council continues to invest in measures that prevent homelessness and rough sleeping and to shorten the time anyone spends on the streets. This is delivered through its housing strategy, partnership work with agencies such as Spring and P3, and the Housing Advice Team's statutory duties under homelessness legislation.
Councillor Liz Coles, Housing and Customer Services Portfolio Holder, said: "Once again, the Council has seen an increase in the number of people sleeping rough on our streets. Rough sleeping is the most obvious and easily recognised form of homelessness, as it is often seen directly in public spaces. While there is now improved local provision for those who end up rough sleeping, the increasing numbers we've seen show there is still work to be done, particularly around preventing homelessness in the first place. The Council is committed to continue to work with its partners to address this problem across our District."
If anyone is concerned about someone they believe to be rough sleeping in the district, they can report this via the Street Link website: www.streetlink.org.uk/
People who wish to donate in order to help those on the street can do so via 'Meaningful Change'.
Stratford-upon-Avon Meaningful Change provides an alternative way for the public to give to people rough sleeping or begging. By donating to Meaningful Change, rather than directly to the person on the street, you can be sure your money will go towards making a meaningful change. The money is pooled and used to fund interventions designed to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness make a meaningful change to their lives.
You can donate via the Meaningful Change website - https://meaningfulchange.org.uk/stratford/donate/
There are various organisations in Stratford that can help and support those sleeping rough.
- Spring Housing: The Fred Winter Centre in Stratford-upon-Avon is managed by Spring and has accommodation units and a community hub supporting local people with a focus on housing plus a range of services which address homelessness and hardship - https://fredwintercentre.org.uk/
- P3 Charity: Intensive support to people in the district, and Housing Related support to over 25s in Warwickshire: https://www.p3charity.org
- St Basils: housing-related floating support to those aged 16 to 25 in Warwickshire https://stbasils.org.uk/get-help/
- CGL: Drug and Alcohol Service Warwickshire https://changegrowlive.org
- Citizens Advice South Warwickshire: Self-help, telephone support, drop-in session and appointments are offered with support available at the district council offices and community advice locations in the district. www.citizensadvice.org.uk.
- JobCentrePlus: Stratford-upon-Avon JobCentre Plus https://www.jobcentreplusoffices.co.uk
