Displacement in rural England rises amid cost-of-living crisis, report says

Rural England has seen a rise in displacement, according to the report, which says the increase exceeded 40 per cent over a period of five years. The report also says more than 50 people were sleeping outdoors, in tents, or in temporary shelters.

The report links these conditions to the cost-of-living crisis. It describes rising food, energy, and mortgage costs that made it harder for many people to meet basic needs. It states that inflation reached 11.1 per cent in October 2022.

The report also argues that reduced charitable capacity, cuts to social subsidies over the past decade, and a shortage of housing have worsened the situation. These are the report’s claims, and the source does not provide supporting detail for each one. The source also cites figures from the Council for the Protection of Rural England, which it says rose from 17,212 in 2018 to 24,143 in 2023. The source ties these figures to affordable housing in rural areas, while noting that wages have stayed flat and housing costs have risen in many regions.

According to the report, rural displacement has been affected by long waiting lists for housing, a large number of homes used for tourist and short-term rentals, and rising house prices. Vulnerable people in these areas deserve steady, practical protection, which is a matter of defending those who have no secure place to live (Proverbs 31:8-9).

The report states that local authorities in 12 regions recorded higher rates of displacement than the national average. It gives the national figure as 15 people per 100,000.

The report identifies one area in the United Kingdom with the highest share of displaced people. It states that this area recorded 48 people per 100,000 sleeping outdoors in September 2023, the most recent month for which data were available. The report also says that people sleeping outdoors in the countryside, unlike those in urban areas, often stay far from town centers. They camp in fields or use farm buildings.

The report notes that the average house price in England was approximately £420,000.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Arabic)