Oxfordshire is one of the most affluent counties in England. According to the 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation, 10 of Oxford's 83 neighbourhood areas ('Super Output Areas') are among the 20% most deprived areas in England. Further relevant data can be found on the Oxford City Council website.
Overall Oxford regularly features as one of the top five areas in the UK for the number of rough sleepers as a proportion of the total local population, and sadly around half a dozen individuals die on Oxford’s streets every winter.
We understand that there are a multitude of factors impacting on the homeless and vulnerably housed community and many of these pressures are particularly prevalent across Oxfordshire. These can include external public support structures and services being reduced and under immense strain, the lack of affordable and accessible housing, the longer term impact of the Covid pandemic on the economy and health, and cost of living increases which often impact most strongly on the most disadvantaged in society.
A Shelter UK report from 2019 estimated that around 45% of renters would not be able to pay their rent for more than one month if they lost their job. Since then the situation has got considerably worse.