New figures obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests by Shelter show that only 23% of those helped off the streets during Everyone In has now been moved into a “settled home”.

Government has since refuted the figures, but the housing charity say that more needs to be done.

Shelter sent FoI requests to all local authorities to see what happened to those helped during the pandemic.

They found:

• 23% in settled accommodation
• 23% no longer accommodated
• 22% in emergency accommodation
• 18% in supported accommodation
• 5% reconnected with friends/family
• 9% either other or not known

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the analysis had not taken into account those who had moved into supported housing or who had been reconnected with family and friends.

The department said it was tracking the outcome of each person helped by Everyone In, with the results to be published “in due course”.

Shelter Chief Executive, Polly Neate, said: “We’re gravely concerned that with funding for Everyone In running out, and councils returning to ‘business as usual’, we will see people forced out onto the streets.

“It would be a travesty if we allowed rough sleeping to slide back to pre-pandemic levels.

“The government needs to get a grip on this situation urgently and look at what comes next.”