Rural homelessness increases in Sussex

As homelessness increases and social housing waiting lists rise, CPRE Sussex is backing a campaign for affordable rural housing.

Homelessness has increased in the four predominantly rural Sussex districts by 8% to 892 from 2018/19 to 2022/23.

Social housing waiting lists also grew in five Sussex districts classed as largely, mainly or significantly rural. The number of people on waiting lists in Chichester, Horsham, Lewes, Rother and Wealden rose from 5,141 in 2018 to 6,195 in 2023.

At the same time, affordable home build completions have largely stagnated. In 2021/22, 1,758 affordable homes were completed across the whole of Sussex, compared to a peak of 2,115 in 2014/15.

The figures were revealed as the national CPRE charity launched its campaign to build support for rural affordable housing on Tuesday (March 19).

Find out more about the affordable rural housing campaign at cpre.org.uk/news/cpre-launches-campaign-to-build-support-for-rural-affordable-housing/