https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rough-sleeping-in-england-autumn-2018<\/a><\/p>These statistics provide a single night snapshot of people sleeping rough across each local authority in England. The snapshot is taken annually by local authorities using street counts, evidence-based estimates, and estimates informed by spotlight street counts. Local authorities decide, in conjunction with their local partners and based on advice from Homeless Link who verify the rough sleeping statistics collection, to use the approach that they believe will return the most accurate figure to assess the extent of people sleeping rough in their local area.<\/p>
The methodology used has been in place since 2010 when it was developed after consultation with local authorities and the voluntary sector with the objective of strengthening the accuracy of the figures. Prior to 2010, there was no requirement for all local authorities to carry out a count or estimate to make an assessment of the number of people sleeping rough in their local area.<\/p>
We are confident in the annual rough sleeping statistics and the methodology used. The annual snapshot has never claimed to be a total figure of all those sleeping rough in the country and is a pragmatic approach that provides a representation of those sleeping rough, alongside a reliable and consistent measure of change. The methodology used in England aligns with the approach which is now standard in many parts of the world including Canada, the United States and a number of other European countries.<\/p>
All counts and estimates are independently verified by Homeless Link. Homeless Link oversee the whole process, issue clear guidance on how to conduct a count or estimate and actively challenge areas to ensure figures are reliable. Hundreds of local partners and voluntary sector organisations actively engage in the count and producing the estimate which also gives us confidence in the reliability of the statistics.<\/p>
Accurately counting or estimating the number of people sleeping rough within a local authority is inherently difficult given the hidden nature of rough sleeping. There are a range of factors that can have an impact on the number of people seen or thought to be sleeping rough on any given night. This includes the weather, where people choose to sleep, the date and time chosen, and the availability of alternatives such as night shelters.<\/p>
MHCLG is actively encouraging local authorities with significant numbers of rough sleepers to improve their year-round data on rough sleeping and is working collaboratively with local authorities to develop improved homelessness data and outcomes that can measure progress in reducing rough sleeping and homelessness.<\/p>
Alongside our recent overhaul of homelessness statistics, through H-CLIC, to collect detailed case level information about every homelessness application we are also establishing local data pilots which will seek to improve the data collected by a wide range of services which people who sleep rough access<\/p>
The Government is committed to reducing homelessness and ending rough sleeping. No one should ever have to sleep rough. That is why we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This 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. In its first year, the Rough Sleeping Initiative provided over 1,750 new bed spaces and 500 staff.<\/p>"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of the methodology used to measure rough sleeping and (b) accuracy of the data produced as a result of deploying that methodology.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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MHCLG\u2019s latest annual Rough Sleeping Statistics published on 31 January 2019 show the total number of people counted or estimated to be sleeping rough in England on a single night in Autumn 2018 was 4,677. This was down by 74 people or 2 per cent from the 2017 total of 4,751, and was up 2,909 people or 165 per cent from the 2010 total of 1,768.<\/p>
These single night snapshots of the number of people sleeping rough are provided by all local authority areas in England. In Liverpool, there were 15 people sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2018. This was down by 18 people or 55 per cent from the 2017 total of 33, and was up 12 people or 400 per cent from the 2010 total of 3.<\/p>
The single night snapshots for (a) Liverpool and (b) those local authorities in Merseyside are provided in table below.<\/p>