More people sleeping in cars in Buckinghamshire amidst rising rents and house prices
Around 18,000 people are turning to their cars for shelter, nationally
An increasing number of people are resorting to sleeping in cars across Buckinghamshire as housing costs rise and homelessness figures escalate.
The CEO of Wycombe Homeless Connection, James Boultbee, has raised concerns about the growing issue while urging authorities to focus on prevention.
Speaking to us, James said that rough sleeping in the UK has risen by 91% since 2021, reversing significant progress achieved during the pandemic under the government’s ‘Everyone In’ initiative.
"The government’s target was to end rough sleeping by 2024, but we’ve actually seen a 20% increase from 2023 to 2024 in the official count," he explained, citing the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals.
James provided insight into why more people are now living in cars, describing it as an option for those trying to delay falling into complete homelessness.
"If you lose your home, most people call a friend or family member to help temporarily. But not everyone has those connections," James said.
"Sleeping in your car is a last resort and often terrifying. If you stay too long, your car can be taken away, and things snowball until you’re living on the streets. Once you reach that point, it becomes far harder to recover."
Housing charity Crisis estimates 18,000 people across England sleep in vehicles or tents, with the figure likely underreported.
James also pointed out that rapidly rising rents in Buckinghamshire are turning housing into an unattainable dream for many.
The average private monthly rent in the county rose from £1,373 in October 2024 to £1,422 in October 2025, according to the latest figures – a 3.6% increase.
This is combined with soaring house prices, with Beaconsfield officially ranking as the UK’s least affordable town.
“Skyrocketing rents are rising faster than wages and government benefits,” James said, adding that the lack of affordable housing is particularly squeezing lower-income households.
James expressed hope that the upcoming government national homelessness strategy would focus on prevention rather than waiting for crises to develop.
"It's far cheaper to prevent someone from losing their home than to fix it after it happens," he said, pointing to research showing that preventative measures can cost 10 times less than reactive responses.
Projects supported by Wycombe Homeless Connection include weekly legal aid clinics, which help individuals at risk of eviction.
However, according to James, tackling the roots of the housing crisis would require a large-scale social housing programme and reform of the planning system.
Another area of concern involves the "non-priority" category in homelessness legislation, which he believes excludes vulnerable people from essential support.
James called for changes similar to those made in Scotland, where every homeless person is now entitled to adequate assistance regardless of their individual circumstances.
“There are people stuck in this category who most of us would agree should not be left on the streets,” he said.
“Charities like ours step in, but the system itself needs to change.”
The government is expected to release a national homelessness strategy soon.
last month, they also announced an £84m cash boost to help prevent homelessness and support families this winter, and immediate help for children and families in temporary accommodation.
Speaking on the numbers of people turning to their cars for shelter, and the soaring rent and house prices, Buckinghamshire Councillor Mark Winn said: “This has been managed proactively, resulting in positive outcomes through close collaboration with both internal teams and external partners.
These efforts have also strengthened relationships with key multi-agency stakeholders.”