A NOTTS homeless charity has seen a near 30 per cent rise in the number of rough sleepers and potential homeless people it works with in the city in just two years.
Today, Framework is holding a conference on homelessness, with experts from across the county.
The charity says, in the first six months of the year, it worked with 167 rough sleepers and people who are at immediate risk of becoming homeless in Nottingham.
This figure is seven per cent higher than the same period of time the year before, and 27 per cent higher than it was in 2010-11.
The charity says this is partly down to an increase in homelessness as the financial crisis continues, but also because they have expanded in spite of funding cuts.
Peter Radage, Framework's service director for homelessness and housing, said: "Rough sleeping is dangerous and potentially deadly. People who are street homeless are at greatly-increased risk of serious ill-health, substance misuse, mental health problems and violent attack.
"Framework has developed a tried and tested approach that not only tackles the symptoms of rough sleeping but also works to resolve its causes."
Rough sleeper Chammack, 36, came to the UK for a new life in 2007. He worked hard but fell on hard times when alcohol abuse led to the break-up of his marriage. With Framework's help he is now rebuilding his life. He said: "First I was sleeping in a squat, then behind a church on Alfreton Road. When I wasn't there I was sleeping on park benches or just in the street.
"It was cold, dangerous and terrible."
Chammack was found a place at Framework's Michael Varnam House alcohol treatment centre in February 2012. He has now stopped drinking.
Framework is holding the conference today at Mansfield Library at 12.45pm. It is open to the public.
Framework is also holding its annual Big Sleep Out, where people are sponsored to sleep rough outside the Capital FM Arena, on Thursday, November 15. To take part visit www.frameworkha.org
The rough sleeper hotline number is 0800 066 5356.