Government trebles rough sleeper estimate
Official estimates have suggested the number of people sleeping rough could be three times that recorded by councils.
The most recent count, which was published earlier this month, put the number of rough sleepers at 440. But a government estimate now says the figure could be as high as 1,247.
Only councils that judge they have a problem with rough sleeping have to carry out rough sleeping counts, and this data produces the 440 figure.
However the government asked all councils to provide an estimated figure, for the first time, receiving data from an extra 256 councils adding 807 further rough sleepers to the total.
This is still a long way short of some figures. Homelessness charity Broadway produces an annual report on rough sleeping for the government, which records the total number of people seen sleeping rough on the streets of London.
Its most recent figures, which were published last week, show there were 3,673 people found sleeping rough on the streets of the capital in 2009/10. This is a 6 per cent increase on 2008/09, driven by rises in the number of rough sleepers from central and eastern European countries.
Housing minister Grant Shapps has called for a review of how rough sleepers are counted and a more thorough way of assessing the problem.
A government consultation on the subject published alongside the revised estimate suggests encouraging neighbouring local authorities to hold counts on the same night, and adjusting the timing of counts to include rough sleepers who bed down later.
Mr Shapps said: ‘At first glance today’s figures might seem like the number of people sleeping on the streets has trebled overnight – but the reality is that the situation on the ground has been much worse than the official rough sleeping count suggested for many years.
‘That’s why I’ve announced plans for an overhaul of the way we assess rough sleeping and why I am asking councils and charities to help us come up with a more credible method of counting. We need a measure we can all rely on if we are to bring people in off the streets and give them a long-term future.’
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Readers' comments (19)
Melvin Bone | 26/07/2010 10:55 am
All government figures on this seem to be flawed.
They need to go out in all towns in the UK on the same night at the same times to get a real fugure.
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Sidney Webb | 26/07/2010 11:02 am
Great slight of hand Mr Shapps - realising the effect your policies will have you've upped the roofless figure so that the increase will not look so bad when your will is done. Whilst you are hidding behind statistical manipulation the rest of us in the real world will be tripping over the consequences. Personally I'll stop and show some human kindness, but I doubt you would even be on the street to pass on the other side.
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Anonymous | 26/07/2010 11:31 am
Is anybody going to do anything with this information? I sincerely hope not. If the official number is 440 but another organisation has a figure of 8 times this surely none of it should be trusted or acted upon until they can agree on numbers.
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Melvin Bone | 26/07/2010 11:41 am
'Progressive Solutions Required | 26/07/2010 11:02 am
Great slight of hand Mr Shapps'
Are you seriousley bemoaning his statement that he thinks the previous previous government got its figures wrong?
Or are you saying that every figure the last government gave us is infallable?
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gordon thompson | 26/07/2010 1:48 pm
I think that an increase in the figure, whether accurate or not, is just in Shapps interest as its a subject he loves. If the figures are accepted its such a minor issue that Shapps will no longer have a hobby horse.
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Melvin Bone | 26/07/2010 3:02 pm
'gordon thompson | 26/07/2010 1:48 pm
I think that an increase in the figure, whether accurate or not, is just in Shapps interest as its a subject he loves. If the figures are accepted its such a minor issue that Shapps will no longer have a hobby horse.'
You don't care if the figure is accurate or not? Why bother commenting at all then?
What a ridiculously naive comment.
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Sidney Webb | 26/07/2010 3:15 pm
MB, unlike some people I am not partisan.
I do deplore deliberate misdirection, which this article is based upon, for the reasons I state, which are that this is being done in advance of the increase in rooflessness that will result from current policy direction in order to make the increase look less.
I do not believe the majority of the previous governments statistics were true, nor likely to be true, just the same as many governments prior to that.
This action is exactly the sort of smok and mirrors we got from Mandelson, ensuring that no valid onward comparisons could ever be made and therefore any claim of improvement could be justified. Fixing the statistics is OK so long as it includes fixing the problem. Sadly, there is no indication that there is any intention to fix the problem, simply a desire to change how the numbers are arrived at.
Meet the new boss; Same as the old boss? - but I'm sure we'll be fooled again!
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Anonymous | 26/07/2010 3:32 pm
I wonder how the homeless are going to be dealt with in the Tory charter for self servers the Localism Bill. Will local housing panels want to deal with them - no. Dispatch them elsewhere - yes. Will elsewhere want them - no. Shapps is a nasty peice of work, just watch him.
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Sidney Webb | 26/07/2010 4:09 pm
Of course the roofless could form a company and grant themselves outline planning permission for housing, so long as they can gain enough money, and 90% support from the village people too!
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Melvin Bone | 26/07/2010 4:26 pm
'Progressive Solutions Required | 26/07/2010 4:09 pm
Of course the roofless could form a company and grant themselves outline planning permission for housing, so long as they can gain enough money, and 90% support from the village people too!'
Lets mock the country folk now eh...Many have to live with friends and relatives as they cannot afford to live in the very village that their family has lived for generations. 'Local houses for local people' is a great initiative, You'll find that this sort of scheme WILL get 90% support from they very people you mock.
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