A SWINDON homeless charity has queried national figures indicating that fewer people are living rough on the street.

Government statistics claim the number of accepted homeless cases nationally is down by three per cent since 2012/13.

However, Threshold Housing Link, based in John Street, maintains it is working with an increased number of homeless people.

The Threshold street outreach team says it previously met and assisted 65 people each month on average; last month the figure had climbed to 75.

The level of service users contacting the outreach team from out of area had risen from 20 per cent in 2012/13 to 38 per cent in the following year, and cases where helpers had dealt with sanctions had stayed at around three per cent.

Cher Sawyer Smith, Threshold’s chief executive officer, said: “Our data and information illustrates to us that the problem is not going away and that welfare reform has created a situation whereby people can easily lose their accommodation if they are sanctioned or they end up with increased levels of debt or rent arrears.

“These sanctions can be appealed against and our staff work alongside those whose benefits have been cut, and often a positive outcome is achieved, but this is after much hard work and continued pressure on the Department for Work and Pensions to review people’s claims.”

Threshold was founded in 1972 to help vulnerable homeless people find a better way of life.

Its services include a street outreach service, an emergency access hostel, in Culvery Court, resettlement projects, a rent management scheme and help for reformed offenders.

David Price, Threshold chairman, said: “Last year more than 750 people turned to the charity for support.

“We offer simple access to accommodation and referral to a planned resettlement programme that encourages people to achieve their goal of having a place they can call home”.

Culvery Court provides 20 beds and has 24-hour staff cover.

This emergency short term accommodation offers intensive support and advice to assist single homeless men with issues that trigger and exacerbate homelessness such as substance misuse, mental health, poor life skills and other related issues.

Charities Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation also say the Government figures do not tally with their experience.