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<p>A consistent methodology for collecting data on the number of people sleeping rough
on a typical night has been in place across local authorities since 2010. Local authorities
themselves decide whether to undertake a count or estimate to determine their snapshot
figure. They should use the method that will most accurately reflect the number of
people sleeping rough in their area. All counts and estimates are checked on the night
by an independent verifier from Homeless Link, funded by the Government, to certify
reliability.</p><p>Whilst Brighton and Hove conducted an estimate in 2017 and undertook
a count in 2018, an estimate or count should return same figure. The latter is a visible
count of those seen, and the former an evidence based assessment of those thought
to be sleeping rough on a single given night. There are a number of reasons for changing
methodology, including improvements in knowledge and capacity of outreach services,
changes in the number of people thought to be sleeping rough or belief that the change
will result in a more accurate return. Brighton has changed methodology before. In
the last 9 years it has counted 6 times and estimated 3 times.</p><p>There are a range
of factors which impact the number of people seen or thought to be seen sleeping rough
on single night, including the weather on the night of the count or estimate. It can
also be affected by where people choose to sleep, the date and time chosen by the
local authority, and the availability of alternatives such as night shelters. We know
the weather was unseasonably cold this year and that Severe Weather Emergency Provision
(SWEP) was enforced. Undoubtably this may have meant people found alternatives to
sleeping rough or bedded down deeper. However, those in SWEP are importantly still
included in the resultant figure and it is unfortunately unrealistic to expect complete
weather consistency year on year.</p><p>MHCLG officials are aware of the letter mentioned
and that Brighton are undertaking their own formal process to address this. Attaining
as comprehensive a rough sleeping figure as possible each year is crucial intelligence
- not only to the Government but all those with an interest in addressing the problem
of homelessness. This is why a large number of local partners are consulted as part
of the count and estimate process and 244 (75 per cent) of local authorities, including
Brighton and Hove, reported consultation of 5 or more different agencies. The Government
also funds Homeless Link to independently verify all counts and estimates that are
undertaken to further ensure they are both reliable and robust. This includes following
the guidance on counting not only those sleeping rough on the street, but also those
in a myriad of situations including in tents, encampments, buildings, and other places
not designed for habitation.</p><p>Of course it is unrealistic to assume a count or
estimate can ever be 100 per cent accurate and MHCLG is encouraging local authorities
with larger numbers to improve their year-round data. However, a great deal of committed
work has been undertaken in Brighton and Hove, including that backed by almost £500,000
in Rough Sleeping Initiative funding for 2018/19 and £35,000 in Cold Weather funding.
As such, they’ve deservedly made an inspiring impact and this is reflected in their
annual return and our own intelligence. We hope this driven work will continue in
the next year with the schemes including the 2019/20 round of RSI funding (provisionally
allocated at £711,524) and the Rapid Rehousing Pathway (providing £555,025 in 2018/19
and over £1.36 million provisionally allocated for 2019/20) for interventions including
navigators, supported lettings and two Somewhere Safe to Stay hubs – one of which
is a women-only shelter.</p><p>This Government is committed to reducing homelessness
and rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why last summer
we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy which sets out an ambitious
£100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the
structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all. The Government has now committed
over £1.2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the spending review
period.</p>
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