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Charities in the UK are raising concerns about the increasing number of people sleeping rough. Not only do those sleeping on the streets face freezing conditions, but there have also been several high-profile attacks on homeless individuals in recent weeks. BBC News interviewed two people who were violently attacked while they were sleeping. One of the individuals, Eve Monks, slept under Blackpool's north pier for several months last year. After suffering a heart attack and stroke, Eve was unable to work, which led her to fall behind on rent. Upon returning to her flat one day, she discovered that her landlady had thrown all her belongings onto the street. With her savings eventually running out, Eve chose to sleep under the pier, believing she would be hidden from public view. Sleeping under the pier came with its own challenges. Despite it being the height of summer, the pier remained open until late with bars filled with party-goers, making it difficult for Eve to sleep. On the evening of August 22nd, she fell into a deep sleep and was startled when a stranger approached her. The man raped her, and despite her attempts to fight back and cry for help, he covered her mouth and prevented her from making any noise. Eve didn't report the rape to the police, as she didn't know what her attacker looked like and thought it would be futile. After some time, Eve sought medical attention and was put in touch with the local housing department, which eventually led to her being offered a small flat in Blackpool. This incident follows other attacks on homeless people, including a video that went viral of a McDonald's security guard throwing water on a rough sleeper's tent and a homeless man being set on fire in a Birmingham underpass. According to the charity Crisis, violence, verbal abuse, robbery, and harassment are unfortunately common experiences for many homeless individuals. A small survey conducted by the charity found that 90% of the 156 participants with experience of rough sleeping in England had suffered some form of attack. However, there are no official figures on attacks against homeless people. Matt Downie, the chief executive of Crisis, acknowledges that there is a serious problem with a small section of society who view rough sleepers as easy targets for horrific crimes. He describes this dehumanization as completely unacceptable. John Campbell, who spent about a decade sleeping on the streets of Newcastle, also shares his experiences of being repeatedly attacked while homeless. John became addicted to drugs during his time on the streets and engaged in theft to support his habit. He also self-harmed multiple times in an attempt to end his life. Despite experiencing numerous attacks, he says the police showed no interest in finding his attackers. Although John is now clean and has been living in a flat for nearly two years, he still feels anger towards those who attack rough sleepers, including some of his friends who are still on the streets. Eve, on the other hand, is slowly rebuilding her life with support from the Salvation Army's Bridge Project in Blackpool. Both individuals emphasize that being homeless is a terrible experience that takes a toll on one's health and overall well-being. They express their gratitude for the support they have received and hope to raise awareness about the challenges faced by homeless people.