THERE’S a lot of talk about affordable homes as we approach the general election. But few politicians are asking why homeless people can’t find a place to live.

Surely in a civilised society that cannot be right. Yet homelessness is seldom seen as a vote winner.

Neither is it confined to the poorer parts of the country. Even affluent cities such as York have too many people living on the streets. Today we talk to some of them about why it can be easier to go to prison than find a home in this city.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission predicts this will be the first decade to witness a rise in absolute poverty. Volunteers at York’s Carecent say the number of people asking for help is the highest they have ever seen.

Talk of affordable homes does nothing to help. Instead the conversation should turn to the reasons people are sleeping rough. And then how to do something about it.