Homeless charities agree multiple issues lie behind the increased visibility of rough sleepers in our region.
Addressing the shortage and affordability of housing is clearly key. The economy and welfare system are factors too.
Experts working with the homeless report there are often complex issues which lead to people setting up home in sleeping bags in our high streets or parks. They include mental health and dependency issues, and an inability to cope.
The cost of providing temporary accommodation is headache for cash-strapped councils. Some housing-the-homeless charities report their best efforts are sometimes thwarted when ingrained rough sleepers given a roof over their heads choose to return to the streets.
Those experts, not political pointscorers, ought to be listened to by policy makers in tackling this distressing problem.
