By Jacob Williams
Homelessness in Leicester is rising sharply, according to new figures that have prompted concern from charities, residents and local leaders across the city.
The number of applicants that presented to Leicester City Council for an assessment in relation to homelessness was 3,415 for the period April 2024 to March 2025.
That was an increase from the year before when 2,792 people applied.
On the city’s streets, a growing strain on services is becoming more obvious.
Many people have been observed sleeping in store entrances and shuttered buildings in the city centre, especially at night and in the early morning.
Viewers such as Mo Mohsin said: “It just affects Leicester in a negative way because people see the amount of homeless people and it makes people not want to come here.”
The reasons for the increase are complicated, according to council officers, but changes in reporting and awareness are crucial.
One officer, who did not want to be named, said: “It has increased because more applicants are experiencing domestic abuse – a problem which has been raised in the media more.”
These concerns have been shared by shop staff in the city centre.
Rough sleepers have been spotted in previously unaffected parts of the city, according to shop owners such as Sabah Rashid.
He said: “It is a problem because we’ve have had customers not want to come in because we have had rough sleepers outside the shop.”
The increased public awareness of domestic abuse has prompted more people to seek assistance while simultaneously highlighting shortages in emergency housing.
The council acknowledges that the need exceeds capacity, but it has stated that it is striving to provide support services and temporary housing.
The number of homeless individuals in Leicester is likely to rise over the upcoming winter months if consistent action is not taken, for example, to provide more rooms in bed and breakfasts.
