Figures from umbrella body Homeless Link show the number of rough sleepers rose by a fifth between November 2001 and March this year, from 205 to 255.
November's count was marred by claims that the government was massaging the figures in order to claim that it had met its target to reduce rough sleeping (HT 6 December, page 3).
The most marked increase since then was in the central London borough of Westminster, where 169 rough sleepers were recorded in March – 49 more than in November. Lambeth, in the south-east of the capital, also recorded a rise: from 12 rough sleepers to 17.
But in the City, the headcount was down three, and in Camden, north London, the count was reduced by one.
A spokesman for Homeless Link said: "The figures recorded by a street count represent a snapshot picture of what is often a mobile and fluid population."
The figures have disappointed homelessness charities. They reiterated calls for more preventative measures and said homeless people were not getting the help they need to come off the street. A spokesman for Shelter said: "There has been a lot of work done but lots more is needed.
"Our real message is, there needs to be a continuing long-term commitment to tackling street homelessness and the complex problems rough sleepers usually have."
The four boroughs involved in the count were chosen because they had all previously failed to meet reduction targets set by the Rough Sleepers Unit – which was replaced by the Homelessness Directorate in March. A directorate spokesman said: "Both Westminster and the Homelessness Directorate are looking into the issue of the increase and are taking it very seriously."
A source working in the homelessness sector said: "The government hasn't effectively prevented people becoming homeless. People are arriving onto the streets every day and the fact that the figures are rising is worrying.
"We need to continue monitoring all the boroughs as the routes into homelessness have not been blocked."
Source
Housing Today
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