THE number of people sleeping rough on the streets of Bristol has soared in the last five years, from just a handful in 2009 to dozens this winter. According to outreach teams who help the homeless, it is all down to the recession and subsequent austerity measures imposed by the Government.
Once a week, staff from Bristol City Council check “hotspots” in the city for rough sleepers. On average, in 2009 and 2010, between three and nine people were found during these weekly checks.