Local authorities estimated on a single night in autumn 2016 there were 4,134 rough sleepers compared to 3,569 the previous year.
The number of people sleeping rough is now more than double the number there were in 2010 when it was estimated at 1,768.
Speaking on Premier's News Hour the Director of the Church Housing Trust, Miriam Morris, said the government was "absolutely not" doing enough.
"In England you can be homeless through no fault of your own, you can be actually sleeping on the street but not be eligible for any help at all," she said.
She added: "At the moment not enough is being done."
Local authorities were sometimes washing their hands of helping people because they don't have the resources to help everybody.
She warned that without the Church the figure would be much higher: "Churches are doing an amazing amount for homeless people.
"People who are not eligible for any help often end up sleeping in a church hall in a winter night shelter.
"Churches are picking up the pieces but the government needs to recognise this and integrate it with other services."
She said that Christians often find it "really hard" because they wish they could help homeless people but they do not know where to start and how to keep themselves and the person in need safe.
A DCLG spokesman said the Government was currently funding projects in 225 local authorities to help rough sleepers and people who were at risk of becoming homeless.
"This Government is determined to help the most vulnerable in society, which is why we're investing £550 million to 2020 to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping," the spokesman said.
There's advice and materials on how to help homeless people at churchhousingtrust.org.uk.
Listen to Miriam Morris speaking to Premier's Alex Williams:
