Our rough sleeper data is improving
I was extremely disappointed by the gross misrepresentation of the work of the London delivery board, which is leading on the reduction of rough sleeping in the capital (Inside Housing, 19 February).
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There has been frequent criticism of the way in which the extent of rough sleeping is measured, with a view that the simple ‘snap-shot’ street count of rough sleepers is, on its own, not enough.
To achieve clarity around this issue the delivery board is considering not only measuring progress through street counts and by using the aggregated figure of rough sleepers met over a year by outreach teams but adding an additional target based on the length of time a rough sleeper is compelled to stay on the street.
This extra challenge to all the organisations working with rough sleepers is then described in the Inside Housing headline as ‘Bar lowered on 2012 rough sleeper figures’. Surely you meant to say ‘bar raised’?
Jeremy Swain, chief executive, Thames Reach, and member of the London delivery board