BROMSGROVE has been included in the West Midlands’ top 20 ‘homelessness hotspots’, with MP Sajid Javid admitting more needs to be done to tackle the issue.

Figures released by housing charity Shelter on Thursday (December 1) estimated that almost 255,000 people are homeless or lack a permanent place to live in the UK.

The report, which analyses data including government statistics and Freedom of Information requests, said there are 38 homeless people in Bromsgrove.

Speaking at the Artrix at an event hosted by homelessness charity Centrepoint on Friday, Mr Javid told a room of around 30 organisations that he is "determined to tackle" the issue.

He backed the Homelessness Reduction Bill and pledged at least £500m in the coming years, including £315m to local authorities and 2,000 places in low-cost, move-on accommodation.

Although he does not recognise Shelter’s new figures, Mr Javid said it is a "reminder" of the issues this Christmas, as was the death of a homeless man in Birmingham last week.

The Communities Secretary told the Advertiser: "The figures I rely on are from the ONS. We have seen a halving of homelessness from its peak in 2003 but still it’s too many people.

"I think one person homeless is one person too many so you have always got to do more.

"The work Shelter does and others is a reminder that no matter what is being done, we need to constantly be looking at new ways to tackle this big challenge.

"It is especially important at this time of the year with the weather changing. I was very sad to hear about that young man who died behind a pub in Birmingham when it got cold.

"It is a reminder to us all: forget the statistics, there are real people behind all this and we have constantly got to be putting them at the front of our mind."

Bromsgrove needs more "affordable rented accommodation" to tackle the issue, according to Jackie Hooper of The Basement Project, who attended the event.

Mr Javid said housing is his "No.1 priority".

Seyi Obakin, Chief Executive of Centrepoint, added: "Youth homeless is getting worse.

"In the last year we have had 150,000 young people who have approached local authorities because they are homeless and need support immediately or are at risk of being homeless.

"The trouble is 30,000 of them are just turned away by local authorities. This is a problem.

"Council’s should open up unused buildings and release used land and derelict land so that organisations like this can raise money and build a provision for homeless people."

Bromsgrove District Council announced ‘Streetlink’ on Monday – a web and mobile app which enables the public to alert them of people sleeping rough in their area.

A council spokesman added: "Despite severe pressure on funding, we offer housing advice to everyone through our housing options service with Bromsgrove District Housing Trust.

"This includes providing emergency crash pad accommodation for young people and a specialist worker to engage with young people and their families, and to help them, where appropriate, to return home.

"The recent rough sleeper estimate showed a reduction in rough sleeping to two and the number of households in temporary accommodation remains steady."

A housing advice service, where nearly 3,800 have registered for advice over the last four years, can be accessed at bromsgrovehomeoptions.org.uk.

For more information on the work of Centrepoint visit centrepoint.org.uk, or visit shelter.org.uk to find out about Shelter.