---

Homelessness: Rough Sleepers

Answer

Since 1998, rough sleeping has been measured by single night street counts in areas where there was a known, or suspected, rough sleeping problem. The table below shows street counts for the City of London and Westminster in the latest 10-year period.

Year	City of London	Westminster
2001	30	169
2002	41	169
2003	36	133
2004	22	175
2005	12	133
2006	25	173
2007	45	112
2008	48	111
2009	38	110
2010	29	147

The rough sleeping street counts in the City of London and Westminster have not shown a consistent upward or downward trend throughout this period. Since 1998, only councils in areas with a known, or suspected, rough sleeping problem were required to conduct an official rough sleeper count, which meant that only 70 councils submitted information to central government. Figures published in July 2010 showed that, under this previous method, on any given night there were 440 rough sleepers in England. However, the coalition Government wanted a more accurate measure of rough sleeping and when the remaining 256 councils provided estimates of the scale of the problem in their areas this added a further estimated 807 rough sleepers, taking the national total to 1,247 rough sleepers on any given night. Under new guidance, all councils across England will now provide information on rough sleeping. This move follows consultation with homelessness charities and councils and is aimed at getting a clearer picture of the scale of the problem in each area so that more targeted support can be provided to some of the most vulnerable in society.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

5047; 723 c294-5WA

Session

2010-12

Subjects

City of London City of Westminster Sleeping rough

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk