A homeless charity has seen a surge in middle class rough sleepers with some holding down jobs and even their own businesses on the streets.
Mercy workers at Riverside ECHG say they are encountering an increase in numbers of people who have fallen on hard times but are still clinging on to employment.
The Ardwick-based charity helps rough sleepers in Greater Manchester get off the streets and rebuild their lives.
But in recent months, frontline staff say they have seen a ‘significant’ rise in people who are sleeping in cars or even alleyways before clocking on for a shift in restaurants or supermarkets.
Homeless co-ordinator Sofia Andersson said the growing number of ‘working homeless’ had been fuelled by debt, money problems and relationship-breakdowns.
She said: “Something we have not expected to see was people who had recently been in employment or were in employment still.
“We’ve had some people who’ve been going to jobs from the streets and they’ve had to leave because of lack of sleep.
“It’s things like catering or supermarkets, or people who’ve recently lost their jobs and haven’t been able to sustain their accommodation.”
In one recent instance, the charity helped a self-employed woman who had lost her house but continued to run her business.
The care worker added: “She was living and sleeping in her car at night, but during the day going about her work.
“Most of the people we have helped have very quickly got their lives back together.
“A lot of the time they were too embarrassed to ask for help. And a lot of the time they don’t even tell their family or friends what is happening.
“The biggest factor is relationship breakdown with the man having to leave the house.
“People might have been staying with family or friends and exhausted their goodwill or might not have a very big network.
“They struggle to get into private accommodation because they don’t have a deposit and one month’s rent.”
Last year, the housing charity launched the No Second Night Out service which allows the public in Greater Manchester to send help to rough sleepers.
Posters and leaflets ask the public to phone, email or post online the location of homeless sleepers, which are forwarded to council teams in each city and town who aim to respond within 24-hours.
Since being launched, the service has received more than 400 calls and messages, helping 190 people off the streets.
Ms Andersson said it was essential to intervene as soon as possible to prevent people becoming hardened to life on the streets.
She added: “We are trying to offer a service to people the first time they become homeless and offer them shelter as quickly as possible.
“It’s not just people with drug and alcohol problems, it’s a very diverse group.
“There are services available during the winter. Despite the cuts to services, I think councils recognise this can be a matter of life and death.”
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