HOMELESSNESS services in Worcester are facing growing pressure as rising living costs push more people into crisis while stretching the charity trying to support them.
Maggs Day Centre is battling to support homelessness and rough sleeping in Worcester amid rising costs to its services and growing demand.
The charity reported that an extra 3,778 people visited its service in 2025/2026 than in the previous year and an additional 299 individuals were supported across Worcestershire.
Melissa Blewitt, fundraising, communications & relationships manager at Maggs Day Centre, said: “Across Worcestershire, we’re continuing to see increasing numbers of people experiencing financial hardship, housing insecurity and more complex needs.
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“The rising cost of living continues to have a significant impact, with many people finding it increasingly difficult to afford the basics or maintain stable accommodation.
“At the same time, charities like Maggs are facing growing demand for support alongside increasing costs of delivering our services.”
Volunteers at Maggs Day Centre are responsible for providing a range of services, such as cooking breakfasts. (Image: Newsquest)
Figures released by Worcester City Council last year also showed that it was experiencing “significant demand” for homelessness services, with 2,121 people seeking help.
In its annual homelessness report, Worcester City Council warned that a shortage of social housing — particularly specialist supported accommodation for those with high needs — could lead to an increase in rough sleeping in the future.
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Supported accommodation may include 24-hour staffing or emergency homeless pods for those unable or unwilling to enter this type of housing.
Tents at a site on Barbourne Road known to be used by rough sleepers. (Image: Newsquest)
Figures from Worcester City Council report that the city currently has 19 rough sleepers – however, this figure was recorded during a single night in March 2026.
This figure also fails to include those who may have been staying in a hostel, sofa-surfing, or squatting that evening, which may explain the disparity between Maggs Day Centre figures.
A total of 803 individuals were supported by the homeless and rough sleeping charity Maggs last year alone.
A spokesperson for Worcester City Council said: “Although rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness, we work with many hundreds of households each year who find themselves facing homelessness through no fault of their own.
“This includes families having to leave private rented accommodation, those fleeing domestic abuse, young people leaving care, households experiencing a financial crisis and individuals with disabilities or in poor health whose home is no longer suitable for them.
“The council continues to work within the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) Network to flex its own systems and processes to meet the specific needs of people facing multiple disadvantages and to encourage system change within other statutory services.”
APPROVED: Rendered images of what the new social housing in Tolladine that will help tackle homelessness will look like. (Image: matthew gullick architects)
How is Worcester City Council tackling the demand on its services?
A Freedom of Information request found that Worcester City Council increased its number of support workers from two between 2021 and 2022 to five last year to tackle demand.
It has also donated additional funding to charities like Maggs Day Centre and invested in the delivery of 18 units of self-contained temporary accommodation, plus an additional 12 for young people.
In March, it was also agreed that Worcester City Council will buy a period property on Henwick Road as temporary accommodation for homeless people.
This is one of several investigative features that explore the rough sleeper and homelessness experience in Worcester by Charlotte Albutt.
