THE Archbishop of Canterbury was “really struck” by the “considerable poverty and people sleeping rough” during his visit this weekend.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby’s comments came during his visit to Sussex, which started on Friday and saw him visit Crawley, Hastings, Brighton and Hove, Lewes and Chichester.

He said the seafront has not changed much from when he would visit Brighton as a child, but said people sleeping rough is “rather more visible”.

An official count last September recorded 39 homeless people in the city, but these figures have been disputed by Sussex Homeless Support in the past.

Jim Deans, who runs the charity, says the city has more than 100 people sleeping rough locally, with even more in squats or sofa surfing.

The archbishop said it highlights the need for “genuinely affordable housing” and said the government’s current definition of affordable housing is “nonsense”.

Currently, housing associations offer properties on reduced rent, allowing buyers to save for a deposit or purchase shares in their home using shared ownership.

The Argus: The council published the latest figures in a draft housing performance report for the second quarter of 2021-22.The council published the latest figures in a draft housing performance report for the second quarter of 2021-22.

He said: “I am really struck by the contrast when driving down by the seafront which looks the same as when I was a child.

“But you go back a few streets and how really different it is, there are obvious bits of considerable poverty, a lot of people sleeping rough. It is rather more visible here.

“There is enormous diversity here, very impressive diversity here and hospitality and welcome. The city is facing considerable problems, house prices are astronomical as I understand them.

“There is a huge need for collaboration between land owners, including the church, we published a report on this last year. The city is a classic place where it is needed.

“Partnerships are needed which enable genuinely affordable housing, the government defines affordable as two thirds of the market. Well that is nonsense, the market is through the roof so two thirds is still unachievable for most people.

“It’s got to be an absolute level and that can only be done by building not affordable housing estates, but very mixed housing which treats people who need affordable houses with the same dignity as those who can afford to put down £100,000 without even thinking about it.”