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Scottish Charity Register No. SC043760

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Confusion over rough sleeper counts

September 08 2010
The number has gone down. Or up. But in either case, homelessness prevention advisers are axed...

The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) has released figures showing a decrease in the number of rough sleepers in England.

According to the report, released in mid-July, 440 people "bedded down" on the streets last year, compared with 464 the previous year. The report came as housing minister Grant Shapps promised to redesign the 'flawed' methods of counting rough sleepers.

Only 70 of England's 256 local authorities carried out a head count, as only those who were thought to have a significant problem were obliged to do so. This is thought to have masked the real figures of homelessness in England.

However, this year, for the first time, local authorities that did not carry out a head count were asked to provide estimates, which amounted to 807. This brings the total figure to 1,247.

The method review of counting rough sleepers is due to be published in October. But the charity Broadway has released homeless figures on behalf of government that show an increase in people seen sleeping on the streets of London. The Street to Home Bulletin 2009/2010 reports a six per cent increase in street sleepers in the capital, counting 3,673, up from 3,472 last year.

The figure has increased because of Central and Eastern European (CEE) country migrants, who make up 26 per cent of the count. With this group excluded from the figures, the count has actually decreased, from 2,927 in 2008/2009 to 2,828 this year.

In June, The Pavement (London and Scotland) highlighted the issues facing CEE country migrants who are being forcibly removed by the UK Border Agency if they are not working or in full-time education.

Despite the rise in CEE migrant rough sleepers and shortly after these figures were announced, the government decided to axe all homelessness prevention and rough sleeping advisors from the CLG who were working alongside local councils. The eight advisers will go by the end of September.

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