Rough sleepers move to Blackpool over ‘childhood holiday memories’

Jason, who moved to Blackpool two years ago, said it was not always straightforward to access support.

In order to receive help from a local council, they must be assessed as having a local connection, which includes living in the area for at least six of the last 12 months.

“It starts off OK and then they try and force you back to where you’ve originally come from,” he explained.

“I had a connection here before, but because I’ve left and gone to St Annes, I’ve got to start from day one again.

“It’s a vicious cycle. It’s no use trying to go somewhere else because it’s the same situation.”

Blackpool Council said high numbers of people arriving from outside the area was not a new phenomenon and that its housing support was mainly reserved for local residents.

“Unless a person has a particular safeguarding risk… our offer to people from out of the area is around reconnection,” said a spokesperson.

They said this involved “supporting people to return to where they have family or a support network in place, or to a local authority which will have a duty to them.”

According to the annual rough sleeper headcount by Blackpool Council, 11 people were living on the town’s streets but the Salvation Army believes the figure is much higher.

Only those bedded down are included in the official figures.